Illicit gambling operations have caused billions in financial damages to Poland's economy.
🚨 Ring, Ring! 🚨 The land of the Coat of Arms is in a pickle. The issue at hand? Despite a seven-year-long gambling overhaul, Poland's still losing a tidy sum to illicit online casinos.
A Stumbling Block in Steps Forward
Industry reps have grumbled about this issue at the 17th Economic Congress, taking place in Katowice. They contend that despite the Ministry of Finance's best efforts:
The Online Casino Landscape in Poland The Ministry is attempting to combat illegal activities, solidified by the fact that over 50,000 domains from blacklisted gaming sites have been barred since the law's implementation. Zdziysław Kostrubała, President of the Polish Association of Legal Operators, Graj Legalnie, stated:
Inadvertently Falling into the Dark Web
Kostrubała further highlighted that even those who choose to gamble legally often accidentally stumble upon illegal sites disguised as legitimate platforms. Here, state filtering tools struggle to keep up.
The 2017 Reform Misses the Mark
The Polish Gambling Act set sail on April 1, 2017. Its primary aims were:
- Crushing the illegal gambling biz.
- Enhancing tax compliance.
- Protecting the players.
Yet, nearing eight years later, it's evident these aspirations haven't been met.
Half the Market Hides in the Shadows
In 2024, H2 Gambling Capital, an analytical company, published a report on the revenue of the legal online gambling segment, amounting to roughly €14.6 billion.
Time for a Change?
Industry heavyweights are imploring the Polish authorities for a reconsideration of the current regulatory framework. They advocate for:
- Simplifying licensing procedures.
- Establishing more robust systems to block underground operators.
- Bolstering educational campaigns for players.
Poland's Position in Europe's Struggles
The present conundrum in Poland echoes a wider European dilemma: as online gambling spreads its roots, states find themselves grappling with offshore and unlicensed platforms.
Experts remark that, unlike many other EU countries, Poland is somewhat behind in tailoring its laws to fit the digital economy[1][2].
What complicates the situation further is that even those playing on legal casino-and-gambling platforms in Poland might occasionally find themselves accidentally engaged with illegal casino-games disguised as legitimate casino-games. This issue is a concern for the Polish Association of Legal Operators, Graj Legalnie, who argue that state filtering tools struggle to keep up with the status quo.
