Online poker film stars Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck.
Online poker is about to hit the big screen in a big way, with the October 4 release of Director Brad Furman and Producer Leonardo DiCaprio's Runner, Runner. The film stars Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck and Gemma Arterton.
Runner Runner Preview
This movie is a little different from previous gambling films like the Hangover series and Ocean's 11, which glamorized Las Vegas casinos. It features Affleck as a corrupt offshore businessman named Ivan Block and Timberlake as a graduate student named Richie Furst who believe has been cheated of his tuition money by Block's site.
The action centers around Furst's pursuit of Block, which takes place on the remote central American island from which the tycoon hosts his gambling business. However, there is a twist in the tale, in that Furst ends up working for Black and becomes a pawn in a bigger game with the FBI.
Industry Reaction
Gambling executives have reacted positively to the release, reminding viewers that it is a cinematic portrayal of the downside of unregulated gaming.
John Pappas, chief of the Poker Players Alliance, was quoted as saying by Reuters: "People could very well get the wrong idea. Not all offshore operators are unregulated bad guys. This is a dramatization, let's be clear about that. It should what could be happening in a worst-case scenario."
The American Gaming Association and other industry groups are preparing advertising and discussion screenings around the upcoming release, in order to distinguish between the cinematic portrayal of the dark underbelly of illegal online poker and the legally regulated activity which they are pushing for.
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