Ep 6. The Card Game

The Card Game is the sixth episode of the twenty-eighth season of the investigative documentary series Frontline. This episode explores the world of online gambling and how it has transformed the industry, with a focus on one major player: PokerStars.

The episode delves into the history of online gambling and the rise of PokerStars, tracing their journey from a small startup to a global powerhouse with millions of users. Interviews with former employees, industry insiders, and legal experts shed light on the company's controversial practices, including its promotion of addictive gambling behavior and its run-ins with the law.

Through interviews with people affected by online gambling addiction, such as a recovering gambling addict and the family of a man who committed suicide due to his addiction, the episode explores the human cost of this industry. Viewers are given a glimpse into the psychological mechanisms that drive people to gamble online, as well as the catastrophic effects that can result from compulsive behavior.

The Card Game also examines the complex legal and regulatory frameworks surrounding online gambling, both in the United States and around the world. The episode gives an overview of the patchwork of laws that govern online gambling, including the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 in the United States, which effectively banned online gambling in that country.

The episode sheds light on the controversial practices employed by PokerStars to circumvent gambling laws in different countries, including its use of payment processors, shell companies, and offshore banking to facilitate its operations. It also explores the company's decision to move its headquarters offshore to avoid paying taxes and to operate in countries with lax gambling regulations.

Finally, The Card Game places the story of online gambling in the broader context of the tech industry and its ability to disrupt traditional markets and upend regulatory frameworks. The episode argues that the rise of online gambling represents a new frontier in the clash between technology and regulation, with potentially devastating consequences for individuals and society.

Through its exploration of the world of online gambling, The Card Game raises important questions about the role of technology in our lives and our ability to regulate its impact on society. With its compelling storytelling and insightful analysis, this episode of Frontline is sure to challenge viewers to think more deeply about the social and ethical issues raised by the tech industry's most controversial practices.