Earlier quoted context omitted.
is there a way to spin it so it'll be legal in the US?
It varies by state, but home poker games often aren't expressly illegal. The illegal aspect is often profiting off of running the poker game. As long as you don't implement a rake into the system and you are paying out the entire pot, you are probably good from a legal perspective although IANAL.
When I played poker at MSFT in WA state, another rule was that you couldn't bet truly blind. You had to at least look at your cards. To see your cards and bet was a 'game of skill', to not was 'gambling'.