Florida Gambling Helpline Director Gets Nearly 10 Years
A Florida man who became director of the state's problem gambling helpline has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for stealing from a former employer, according to WJHG-TV in Panama City.
Philip Sullivan pleaded no contest on Friday, October 16, 2026, to six felony charges. A Bay County judge adjudicated him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to 118.5 months in the Florida Department of Corrections.
The six sentences will run concurrently. Sullivan was also ordered to repay nearly $1.5 million to his former employer, Royal American, the Panama City company where he had been chief financial officer.
After the hearing, his bond was discharged and he was taken into custody to begin serving the sentence. WJHG reported that the case was officially closed following the hearing.
How The Case Started
Sullivan was arrested in March 2024 after an internal audit found extensive unauthorized charges on a company-issued credit card, WJHG reported at the time.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office initially charged him with grand theft of more than $100,000 and said he was fired once the audit surfaced.
Local station WMBB reported that Judge Tim Register imposed the sentence and described the theft as $1.4 million taken over 11 months. The restitution figure is slightly higher than the amount in that report.
The Helpline Connection
The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, a nonprofit, runs the statewide 888-ADMIT-IT problem gambling helpline. Sullivan's public LinkedIn profile lists him as the helpline's director since March 2025, a year after his arrest.
The court coverage reviewed for this report describes thefts from his former employer and does not mention funds from the council or the helpline.
The court coverage does not say whether Sullivan is still in the role.
Where Players Can Find Help
The helpline number is 888-ADMIT-IT, and the council describes it as a 24-hour, confidential and multilingual service for anyone wanting help with problems with gambling including online sportsbooks.
For other examples of how states fund recovery support, see our reports on Pennsylvania funding its first problem gambling case management programme and a new Massachusetts recovery app.
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