It occurs to me that perhaps we all are over complicating things. All we really need is the ability to transfer funds to and from the sites securely. That is what was taken away from us via the 2006 UIGEA. Rather than trying to re-create a whole industry, let's work on the part that got broke. Even the remaining US sites, would be fine if money transfers were fixed.
Then we could do stuff like petition whoever to get Stars back in the US, and since they are only charged with UIGEA violations, and maybe a few laundry issues (not their fault) and are the only party involved who handled everything responsibly, and the DOJ saying that most of the charges brought against offshore sites are not valid, and probably will not be prosecuted, then we are solving a broken thing, not trying to re-create a new thing.
I can guess that some guy in New
mexico, or Wisconsin or wherever who wins a big online prize will end up spending a whole lot of that in their states generating income, and taxes and jobs for that state.
Getting the money flowing again will be the cure for all the problems.