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Catena Media Us, Inc.
8565 S. Eastern Avenue
Suite 150
Las Vegas, NV 89123

(646) 543-0245

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Play Illinois Team

Managing Editor: Marvin Wilks

Marvin Wilks transitioned to Play Illinois in the summer of 2022 following a distinguished 25-year career as a writer and editor, specializing in Canadian horse racing. He earned his master’s degree in journalism from Western University and was honored with induction into the Communicators’ Corner of the US Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2018. Alongside his profound interests in family and music, Marvin harbors a enduring yet often heartbreaking affinity for Detroit sports teams. He resides in Port Stanley, Ontario, with his wife and their cherished Vizsla named California.

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Lead Writer: Thomas Backus

Thomas Backus has over a decade of experience covering news and sports for both online and TV broadcasts. He was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN, and is an alum of Minnesota State University: Moorhead. Thomas recently delved into tribal casino and online gambling news, including covering the launch of sports betting in Arizona. He has a background as a reporter and videographer, with extensive coverage of high school, college, and professional sports, notably focusing on the Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Vikings, and North Dakota State University football.

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Contributor: David Kilpatrick

David Kilpatrick, a 2020 graduate of Northern Illinois University from Chicago, specializes in coverage of sports betting and legalization. Described by former teammates and coworkers as a dedicated individual who loves the game.

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Contributor: Robbie McMahon

Robbie McMahon writes prolifically, primarily contributing to gambling publications such as Play Illinois, iGaming Business, Gaming Today, Bonus.com, MidwestSharp.com, ICE 365, and IGB North America. He also covers pop culture and books for Tor.com and TheQuillToLive.com, boasting over eight years of experience in these fields.

Read more from Robbie here.

Contributor: Jason Nunez

Jason Nunez hails from Southern Louisiana, near New Orleans, and began his journalism career at the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Since 1998, he has been a prominent writer and columnist in New Jersey, garnering 14 statewide press awards. In 2022, he achieved his first Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 award.

Read more from Jason here.

Content Manager: Bryan Fielding

Bryan Fielding, based in the Chicago area, previously served as the Managing Editor for Play-illinois.com. Before that role, he worked as a college sports writer for NCAA.com starting in 2015. His work has also been featured in Bleacher Report, FoxSports.com, and NBA.com. Growing up, Bryan competed against Anthony Davis and Frank Kaminsky in the Chicagoland basketball scene, which surely provided memorable experiences.

Read more from Bryan Fielding here.

Head of Production, Play Sites: Janet Adams

Janet Adams serves as the content lead for Play-branded sites, notably Play-illinois.com. Her expertise lies in writing and reporting on poker culture, as well as the legalization and launch of sports betting across the United States. Previously, she worked as a business story strategist focusing on small businesses. Janet holds a bachelor’s degree in communications.

More About Play Illinois

Play Illinois serves as the dedicated Illinois-centric site within a network of Play-branded news and informational platforms across the nation. Our coverage spans all facets of Illinois gambling, encompassing topics such as the Chicago casino project, the expanding sports betting industry, casinos, lottery, and VGTs (Video Gaming Terminals).

We operate independently as a commercial organization and are not directly affiliated with any specific casino, sportsbook, mobile sports betting app, or gaming website.