What I hate most is the question of it legality. While its not legal to play where I live its not illegal as well. Just stupid politics killing the game.
Just Govt's being stupid, not progressive and behind the times in thinking.
canada for example should have it's own
poker site geo-locked only for Canadians with complete Govt regulations and oversight if they don't outright own it and run it. All profits after operating expenses are consider taxes. Keep the current tax laws for rec/hobby players. Which is profits are tax free. Regulated booze and weed are a license to print tax money poker can be as well quite easily.
For Govt regulation the players get security, integrity, safety and a real regulated site to play on where there's actually a place to take ones issues and get them sorted legally by actual law, courts and judges. Imagine
online poker with no shady, scummy, trashy and douchebag sites. Oh too dream.
I'd certainly be playing higher stakes instantly on such a regulated site creating more rake/tax money.
EDIT: Imagine the extra hundreds a millions/billions in profits yearly put towards taxes and improving things.
Cheers!!!