Hello everyone, I am working on a debate paper for one of my classes, attempting to argue the pros and cons of the legalization of online poker as well as possible compromises and ideas for the industry. Any help you guys could provide would be greatly appreciated.

First off it is my belief that the battle for legalized online poker is propelled primarily by the governments inability to tax as well as regulate the industry. One proposition I have is that the industry should be regulated by the FEDERAL government as opposed to each individual state so that there can be greater conformity from area to area. This regulatory agency could almost be combined with the existing lottery system as to ease the regulatory burden. From a taxation side I believe it would be easiest to create a "rake" tax where each table is raked like the sites currently do only a portion would be credited to the government. In return the sites would gain access to the massive US player base for an enormous expansion opportunity. American players and the public in general would also be at greater ease because the sites would be federally regulated. Last and not least the government could apply the tax revenue to "Education" as the same guise as the lottery (which takes no skill to win, against astronomical odds)