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1. Money, money, money. More tax revenue from taxes. More revenue for domestic corporations if they can enter the market, instead of the current situation were nondomestic companies are making a killing off of US consumers.
2. Prohibition doesn't work - see alcohol.
3. Prohibition doesn't solve the problem he is trying to prevent. He doesn't want addicts and underaged playing and doesn't want it to be used for money laundering. Forcing poker underground doesn't stop the abusers, it only stops the law abiding users from playing, domestic companies from profiting, and the US government from effectively taxing and regulating the industry. Legalizing and regulation allows for implentation of means to prevent abuse. The UK sites have done a number of things to this effect.
4. Freedom of discretionary income. If I want to spend $400 on a bottle of wine, or a round of golf, or a game of poker, it's my choice. It's entertainment.
5. Separation of church and state. Gambling is a form of entertainment paid for out of discretionary income. One's religion may prevent them from partaking in the activity, such as it does one from drinking alcohol. But our country was formed on the freedom of religion.

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Additions/Revision.

Do NOT argue under any circumstances about morality or religion. Because you simply can not sway a personal who takes something for granted on the basis of faith, even in face of the strongest empirical evidence to the contrary. Avoid a religion discussion at all costs. If at all you should use the separation of church and state and freedom of religion as excuses not to evaluate based on that. If online poker is truly bad for the masses, he should be able to come up with non-religious reasons for it.

6. Mention the ridiculous conflicts this bill presents. Live poker is legal but online is not? Online horse betting is legal but online poker is not? Seek an understanding as to why this is so. If he proposes that he thinks all should be illegal, ask him if he thinks outlawing those is a winnable fight. If yes, ask him why his focus is online then? If no, then ask him how he possibly hopes to succeed here.

WRT the conversation on not being able to stop excessive deposits and underage use. I believe these devices are in place in the UK. I know there are deposit limits, and there are certainly age verification technology standards out there. Pushing poker underground eliminates these safeguards that would be standard in a regulated poker community.