He's bullshitting them. The workers aren't necessarily in on the greater grift. They're just workers.
Also you said that there's nothing more to cover in a second season and I think there's one thing I'd like to know.
What are the circumstances that lead to the cop's brother, winner of a previous game, to become the Front Man?
Isnt it already revealed in the end? He does it because he agrees with the old men. It's a good way to bring poor desperate people to have a chance at winning big. At the same time, a good way to weed out the poor people (rationale same as in The Purge)
It's done out of formality too, as seen with how each participant needed to sign a contract and were also given a second chance to quit.