As experts from https://smartwatchranking.pl/kasyna-online/ in the online gambling market, drawing on the provided sources, we can discuss the current state of the gambling market in Poland, the reasons behind its unique structure, the monopoly held by Total Casino, and the operational status of international online casinos with MGA or Curacao licenses.
The Polish Gambling Market Overview The gambling market in Poland is legal but operates under strict regulations. It is a heavily regulated industry that was valued at PLN41.21 billion in 2021, with the entire casino industry's turnover reaching PLN 43.4 billion in the same year. The market has shown growth over the past five years and is projected to continue expanding due to the increasing betting population.
The Ministry of Finance serves as the primary regulatory body, responsible for licensing, revoking licenses, and supervising gambling operations. Four main categories of legal gambling games exist: Games of Chance (including lotteries, dice games, cylindrical games, and bingo), Betting, Card Games (like blackjack, poker, and baccarat), and Slot Machines. Notably, online casino games were the highest revenue generator in 2021, bringing in PLN 18.34 billion. Despite the strict legal framework, illegal gambling remains prevalent in Poland. In 2021, unauthorized online casinos had a turnover of approximately PLN 20.1 billion, surpassing the PLN 17.4 billion generated by legal online casinos. The government has actively blacklisted numerous domains, totaling 26,200 by September 2022, to combat this. Polish players enjoy a wide array of online casino games, with slots being exceptionally popular, alongside table games, live casino games, video poker, and even scratch cards.
Reasons for the Current Situation The stringent nature of Poland's gambling laws stems from the country's conservative and religiously influenced background, which has contributed to a slow legislative process. The foundational legislation, the Gambling Act of 2009, was enacted amidst political controversy, with allegations of public officials influencing tax regulations for the casino industry. This led to a rushed passage of the Act to demonstrate the government's stance against lobbying. Initial inconsistencies in the 2009 Act, including its non-compliance with EU laws, necessitated subsequent amendments. Key amendments include:
- 2011 Amendments: Limited slot machines per casino, introduced a 10% tax on sports betting winnings, and allowed e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller for gambling transactions.
- 2015 Amendments: Permitted foreign gambling operators to offer services in Poland even without a physical facility.
- 2017 Amendments: Established a Blocking System for Internet Service Providers to automatically block unlicensed gambling websites and transactions, and prohibited payment processors from serving these sites.
The regulatory approach, overseen by the Ministry of Finance, is risk-based, primarily focusing on protecting society (especially minors) from the harms of gambling and preventing tax circumvention.
Total Casino's Monopoly The state holds a monopoly over online gambling in Poland, with the exceptions of promotional lotteries and betting. As a result, Totalizator Sportowy, a state-owned company, is the sole legal entity permitted to offer online casino games in Poland. Totalizator Sportowy operates the Total Casino and also sells lottery tickets online. This state control significantly limits the entry of private entities, especially those based overseas, into the Polish online casino market. While this arrangement may contradict EU free trade rules, Polish law takes precedence within its borders.
Operation of Sites with MGA and Curacao Licenses in Poland According to Polish
