Here are some ideas on how to support the site. I am under the impression that the actual operating costs are pretty low for a poker system. Prove me wrong?
1. Donations. You have a "tip the dealer" or some sort of setting that allows the player to throw a buck or some set % back for ongoing support. At every B&M that I know, the players tip the dealers voluntarily.
2. Begging. Have a screen post a voluntary collection request when you log on and/or off. Display the # of hands, time and $ won so that the players feel guilty.
3. Funding. How do you get $ easily in and out of the site? A widely available payment system such as Visa/Mastercard is preferred as they are in most wallets. The clearing systems are not centralized; ie, every member clears according to their own policies. They can accept or reject according to their own discretion. Suppose that the site became a clearing member of Visa and was then able to process those accounts? Remember, there are no federal laws that they would be violating and if the feds want to actually prosecute with the UIGEA, we have a decent chance to win.
4. Smart cards. If #3 above is polly-anna ish, the site can function with smart cards. Our euro friends have been using these for a while.
http://www.smartcardbasics.com/overview.html
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question332.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_card
http://www.smartcardalliance.org/
The key is that smart cards store value on the card. A complicated system would require readers at the computer of the player, plugged in like a dongle. A simpler system would have a centralized authentication method.
5. PPA. They are a non-profit. What is their position on this concept?
6. Telephony/cameras. If the site was 1 table only, I would like to see an integrated voice/camera setup so that you can at least interact more with the other players.