Soon, two of online gambling’s biggest allies on Capitol Hill could be Sean Parker and Jack Ryan, or, more specifically, the actors who played them on the big screen. The upcoming poker flick “Runner, Runner” could soon be used as “Exhibit A” in the halls of Congress, where a debate over whether to legalize and regulate online gambling is gaining steam.

According to Nevada political reporter Jon Ralston, the American Gaming Association (AGA) could soon invoke “Runner, Runner,” which stars Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake, to show the need for online gambling regulation. His source is an e-mail AGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman allegedly sent to his Board of Directors.

“Runner, Runner” will be released in the U.S. on October 4 and Freeman contended, “This film provides our industry with an opportunity that the AGA will capitalize upon.” If you’re not familiar with the flick, here’s its synopsis from Wikipedia: “Richie Furst (Timberlake, pictured below) is a Princeton student who is cheated out of his tuition money by playing online poker. When he learns that the site is hosted from a remote island location, he goes to confront the site’s corrupt owner, Ivan Block (Affleck), but is lured into becoming Ivan’s protégé and right-hand man.”

Leonardo DiCaprio is a producer and Brian Koppelman and David Levien, the brains behind the Hold’em classic “Rounders,” wrote it.

Freeman continued, “The film underscores the AGA’s message to lawmakers about the urgent need for online poker regulations in the United States.” You’ll recall that the AGA recently held a fly-in on Capitol Hillwith several high-profile casino executives and has, to date, championed online poker legislation while at the same time called for a ban on other casino games.

“The AGA will leverage the certain coverage this film will receive to raise awareness about the need for proper regulation of online gaming,” Freeman noted in his e-mail. “Tactics may include releasing research on the amount of illegal internet gaming currently estimated to be taking place in the United States, driving theater-goers to the AGA website to learn more about properly regulated gaming, and ‘discussion screenings’ for targeted audiences. We will provide more detail as the plan takes shape.”

A two-and-a-half minute trailer for “Runner, Runner” was posted on Ralston’s personal website. It starts with Bob Gunton, who played the warden in “Shawshank Redemption,” telling Timberlake, “I want you to make this place proud, but gambling is prohibited on campus… Change your tune or you won’t have a school to pay for.”

Timberlake and a co-star then discover they were cheated at the online poker tables by looking at the win rate of an opponent, invoking memories of the UltimateBet and Absolute Poker super user scandals. The former ‘N Sync singer then heads to a tropical hamlet and meets Affleck(pictured) on a ritzy sailboat, with the “Pearl Harbor” Razzie nominee reminding all of us, “The house always wins.”

Fast cars, suitcases full of money, drinking, and scantily clad women ensue. Then, people’s heads get bagged, cars slam into each other, actor Anthony Mackie shows up, and an alligator eats someone. The film also stars Ben Schwartz (“Parks and Recreation”), Sam Palladio (“Nashville”), and Gemma Arterton (“Quantum of Solace”).

Click here to read the full e-mail and watch the “Runner, Runner” trailer.

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