Online Gambling Laws in Poland

Poland may occupy a place in the European Union. Still, many of its gambling laws do not comply with the EU's regulations, especially when allowing fair competition from member states and the prosecution of players without an inclusive licensing procedure. Learn more about Poland's gambling laws in the article below.

Gambling Regulation by Casino Type

Poland's gambling laws are laid out in the 2009 Act on Gambling Games, which cracked down on previously more relaxed regulations. Amendments to the legislation were made in 2011 to permit some forms of online gambling. Still, the region is well known for being on the stern side, especially when it comes to casino gambling and prosecuting players. Let's look at Poland's gambling laws as they apply to the various types of gambling in turn.

Casino Games

Land-based casino gambling is legal in Poland and has been since 1918, but the situation is a little more complex. During the Soviet occupation of the country, Poland was governed under the same communist laws, which meant that all forms of gambling were illegal. 

When the country regained its independence in 1991, casino gaming was made legal again. In 2009, the Act on Gambling Games cracked down on the casino gambling industry in a big way, limiting the number of venues to one per 250,000 population and reducing the number of games that can be played at such locations. There are now only 15 casinos in Poland. Slot halls were also made illegal, but these were brought back in 2018, albeit under monopoly control of the state-owned Totalizator Sportowy.

In contrast, online casino gambling is illegal in Poland, and players are even prosecuted for playing at unlicensed online casinos. The situation contravenes EU laws, which not only require member states to allow for fair competition but also prohibit the prosecution of players under such circumstances. While there are a few special exceptions, such as deals with certain companies and licensed sports betting sites offering online casino slots and other online games to Polish members, it's generally wise to avoid playing online casino games in Poland.

Poker

Offline poker gambling is legal in Poland, with operators required to hold a casino licence to run such games, which only occur within established casinos. There are no standalone poker halls or clubs. Video poker machines can also be found in many of the country's slot halls.

Online poker gambling is illegal in Poland, but efforts have been made to change the situation, with a draft bill to legalize the activity penned in 2016. While some licensed sports betting sites do manage to allow their Polish members to play casino games, including online poker games, it's generally advised that Polish residents do not attempt to play online poker games due to the possibility of being prosecuted for doing so.

Bingo

Land-based bingo gambling is legal in Poland, but venues are restricted to one per 100,000 population. State-owned company Totalizator Sportowy runs a TV-based bingo game under monopoly control. Operators are required to hold a licence.

On the other hand, online bingo gambling is illegal in Poland, except for Totalizator Sportowy's own online bingo-type game. The country's ISPs block foreign bingo sites, and there is no route for them to acquire a licence. Players also face prosecution for visiting such sites.

Lotteries

Land-based lottery gaming is legal in Poland, with the country's national lottery being the only permitted form of the activity. The state-owned company Totalizator Sportowy monopolizes lottery games in the country. The only exceptions are temporary lotteries or those run for charitable purposes.

Online lottery gambling is also legal in Poland, but again, the activity is monopoly controlled by Totalizator Sportowy. Interestingly, it took a while for the company to come online, with players only allowed to play online lottery games for real money in 2017, several years later than in neighbouring European countries.

Social Casinos and Crypto Casinos

While social casinos and skins gambling aren't specifically mentioned in the current legislation, loot boxes are, with Poland's Ministry of Finance concluding that they are not a form of gambling and do not come under the current rules.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are not illegal in Poland, but they aren't recognized as a currency either, which means that gambling establishments cannot accept them as such. Some licensed operators serving the country have found a way around the issue by offering third-party payment processors, effectively turning them into crypto casinos.

Poland Sports Betting Laws

Contrary to most other gambling activities in Poland, betting on sports is legal both offline (since 1990) and online (since 2011). Operators must obtain a licence, with 12 such companies currently holding one. Each of these also has its online presence, allowing Polish punters to enjoy a range of online sports betting markets and those presented in the shops.

Outside of these licensed operators, sports betting is strictly illegal, with players prosecuted for doing so. Even though the government has admitted to only targeting those with the largest winnings, it's still not advisable to bet at unlicensed sportsbooks in Poland. Fantasy and virtual sports betting is not specifically mentioned in Polish gambling regulations.

Gambling Age Restriction

The legal gambling age in Poland is 18 years, although this does not apply to small raffles and promotional lotteries.

Tax Regulation

Poland's gambling tax regulation lays out a different rate of tax that's applicable depending on the type of gambling activity offered. These tax rates vary from 2.5% of sports bets made right the way to 50% of the net profit from slot machines and casino games. This reflects the country's legal stance on these various activities, with sports betting the most open and casino gambling the most restricted. VAT is not charged.

Players can enjoy tax-free winnings if they have been won via licensed operators in Poland. Winnings over €500 obtained via the country's lottery and bingo games are subject to a 10% tax. Any winnings from unlicensed operators are subject to income tax rates.

History of Gambling Laws in Poland

Legal gambling in Poland dates back to 1777, when a lottery framework was devised, with the country's first lottery launching in 1786. However, since this was before the formation of modern-day Poland, 1918 is generally regarded as when the first mention of legal gambling was made about the opening of the country's first casino in Sopot, which was redesigned and expanded in 1930.

Between 1945 and 1991, Poland came under Soviet rule, meaning that most forms of gambling were illegal. However, some exceptions existed, such as Poland's lottery, which was established in 1955.

After regaining independence, Poland legalized gambling again with the 1991 Act on Games and Betting. However, due to widespread corruption, the 2009 Act on Gambling Games replaced existing legislation, prohibiting or heavily restricting many gambling activities. Amendments to the law were made in 2011 to allow some forms of online gambling.

Key Facts

Poland's laws on gambling are surprisingly restrictive in places. Here's a brief look at the key points regarding gambling in Poland:

• Land-based casino gambling is legal in Poland, but online casino gambling at live casinos and other such sites is illegal, with players facing prosecution.
• Offline poker games are legal in the country's casinos, but online poker is illegal.
• Land-based bingo gambling is legal, but online bingo gambling is illegal except for games offered by Totalizator Sportowy.
• Both offline and online lottery games are legal but under the monopoly control of Totalizator Sportowy.
• Sports betting is legal online and offline, but only via licensed operators.