About PlayVirginia

Our team

Managing Editor: Russ Mitchell

Russ Mitchell joined Catena Media as PlayIA‘s lead writer and managing editor in 2021. He is anxious to share updates about the growing Virginia gaming industry for PlayVirginia. He draws on 25 years of news and sports reporting experience, including 11 years as managing editor for one of Iowa’s most decorated community newspapers.

Recent and Current Contributors

Contributor: Matt Boecker

Matt Boecker is a 2020 graduate of Northern Illinois University hailing from Chicago. Boecker specializes in coverage of sports betting and legalization. Former teammates and coworkers describe him as a nice guy who tries hard and loves the game.

Contributor: Marian Rosin

Marian Rosin is a freelance writer that has written on a variety of topics including publications like Upnest and Psychology Today. Marian brings experience in the gambling sector as the senior copywriter for Isle of Capri casinos.

Contributor: Veronica Sparks

Veronica Sparks is a writer from Milwaukee, WI, who thrives on fast-paced news and current events. She’s been published by Digital Trends, CinemaBlend, and 4B, and when she’s not scouring breaking news sites, you can find her binge-watching “New Girl” for the 100th time.

Contributor: Julie Walker

Julie Walker has written, edited and designed words at five Michigan newspapers and websites. She’s worked on two sports desks, including at The Oakland Press and most recently at The Detroit News. Julie has contributed to stories on many big sports moments, from the NFL’s 100th season to Super Bowls to Justin Verlander’s trade to the closing of the Palace of Auburn Hills.  Julie loves lakes, bonfires, Dachshunds, coaching Little League and carrying on her Dad’s fantasy football legacy that he started in 1987 — before there was an app for that.

Contributor: Derek Helling

Derek Helling is a Catena Media contributor who resides in Chicago. In addition to gaming news, he covers esports, sports business and sports law.

Past Contributor: Dann Stupp

Dann Stupp is a longtime sports journalist who’s written and edited for The Athletic, USA Today, ESPN, MLB.com and other outlets. He lives in Lexington, Virginia.

Content Manager: Ian St. Clair

Ian St. Clair manages the sites for some of the biggest gambling markets in the US, including PlayVirginia.com. He has covered the sports betting and gambling industry for over two years and is now leading the charge in the most influential markets to potentially launch online casinos. A University of Northern Colorado graduate, he also has over a decade of journalism experience covering college and professional athletics.

Head of Production, Play Sites: Kim Yuhl

Kim Yuhl is the content lead for Play-branded sites, including PlayIllinois.com. She has experience writing and reporting on poker culture and the legalization and launch of sports betting in the US. Yuhl was a business story strategist for small businesses. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications.

VP, North America Content: Dustin Gouker

Dustin Gouker has been a sports journalist for more than 20 years, working as a reporter, editor and designer. He also manages content at Legal Sports Report and other sites about gambling. He contributes analysis at the PlayUSA network, including regional sites like PlayVirginia. He went to school in Washington DC and lived in Virginia for five years.

More about PlayVirginia.com

PlayVirginia was founded to help cover the new gambling industry created by state law in 2020, including the legalization of online sports betting and land-based casinos. You can find information at PlayVirginia on both topics, as well as coverage of the gambling industry in the region around Virginia.