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Former Florida gambling helpline director Philip Sullivan has been sentenced to 118.5 months in prison for theft from his previous employer, Royal American.
Sullivan pleaded no contest to six felony charges, including grand theft, according to Covers. The outlet reported that Bay County Judge Tim Register imposed the sentence after Sullivan stole $1.4 million from Royal American over 11 months to fund his gambling addiction.
According to Covers, Sullivan had been Royal American’s chief financial officer. An internal audit identified unauthorized transactions on a company-issued credit card, leading investigators to uncover his gambling habit.
inkl.com reported that Sullivan used company credit cards to buy gift cards and cash cards while working for the Panama City-based company. The outlet said a Bay County judge adjudicated him guilty on all six counts on Oct. 16, with his prison sentences running concurrently.
He was also ordered to pay nearly $1.5 million in restitution, according to court records cited by WJHG-TV and reported by inkl.com.
Helpline Appointment Came While Case Was Pending
Covers reported that Sullivan was arrested in March 2024 and named director of the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling’s helpline in March 2025, while the criminal case remained pending. His responsibilities included daily operations, staff and outreach, according to Covers.
Three days before sentencing, Sullivan appeared on an ODAAT Gambling Awareness podcast episode and discussed how his addiction led to debt and further gambling, Covers reported.
At sentencing, Sullivan’s family argued that prescription Adderall contributed to his behavior, while prosecutors said he planned and concealed the thefts, according to Covers.
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