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Online casinos in Poland
Poland is one of Europe's most heavily regulated gambling countries. Here gambling is legalized, but it works under strict state control. Online casinos are in a state monopoly, and private companies can only legally offer sports betting and lotteries with a license. This model allows Poland to maintain transparency, but limits competition and choice for players.
Legislative framework
The modern legal system of gambling in Poland is based on the Law on Gambling (Ustawa o grach hazardowych), adopted on November 19, 2009, with the latest amendments in 2017 and 2021.
The law defines:- all forms of gambling are subject to state licensing and supervision;
- the only legal online casino operator is the state-owned Totalizator Sportowy;
- foreign operators without a Polish license are subject to blocking;
- The Ministry of Finance maintains a register of permitted and prohibited domains;
- lotteries and betting can only be carried out with a license issued by the Polish regulator.
- Ministerstwo Finansów (Polish Ministry of Finance) -
- it controls the licensing, taxation and compliance of operators with the requirements of the law.
State monopoly
Since 2017, the online casino has been under the exclusive monopoly of the state.
The only operator authorized to offer online casinos and slots is:- Totalizator Sportowy, managing the Total Casino brand (totalcasino. pl).
- only a Polish state-owned company can legally offer online casinos;
- all private companies are limited to bookmaking and lotteries;
- sites without a license are blocked at the provider level;
- offshore operators are entered in the "black register" (Rejestr Domen Zakazanych), which has more than 30,000 domains.
Licensing and taxation
Private companies can obtain licenses for:- bookmaking (stawki bukmacherskie);
- lotteries and sweepstakes.
- registration of the company in Poland or the EU;
- presence of a representative office and a bank account in Poland;
- RNG and software certification;
- mandatory integration with the MF monitoring system;
- proven financial strength and impeccable reputation.
- 50% of gross revenue (GGR) - for online casinos (Total Casino);
- 12% of turnover (turnover) - for betting companies;
- 10% of the player's winnings if the amount exceeds 2,280 PLN (about €500);
- corporate income tax - 19%.
The tax system in Poland is tough, but transparent, and all receipts are directed to social and sports programs.
Online gambling
The online gambling sector in Poland is divided into two areas:1. State Monopoly - Total Casino (Totalizator Sportowy)
works since 2018;
offers video slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, live games;- accepts deposits in zlotys only (PLN);
supports strict limits and self-monitoring.
2. Licensed bookmakers who can legally accept online bets.
Major licensed operators:- STS. pl is the country's largest bookmaker;
- Fortuna. pl is part of the international Fortuna Entertainment group;
- Betclic. pl - French brand with Polish license;
- LVBet. pl, Etoto. pl, Superbet. pl, Totalbet. pl, Betters. pl.
All of these companies operate under the MF license and are regularly audited.
Land-based casinos and gambling halls
There are about 50 licensed casinos in Poland, which are operated by private companies with the permission of the Ministry of Finance.
Largest networks:- Hit Casino, Casinos Poland, Olympic Casino, Royal Casino, Marriott Warsaw Casino.
Gambling halls with machines are allowed only with a license, and no more than one per 100,000 inhabitants of the region.
Popular games and player interests
Polish players prefer:- video slots (Book of Ra, Starburst, Gonzo's Quest, Sweet Bonanza);
- roulette and blackjack;
- sports betting, especially football, esports and tennis;
- lotteries and EuroJackpot;
- poker - available only in offline casinos or on international sites without a license.
Due to market restrictions, many users play via VPN on foreign sites (for example, Stake, Betano, 1xSlots), despite the blocking.
Payment methods
The main currency is Polish zloty (PLN).
Legal operators support:- Przelewy24, Blik, Dotpay, Tpay - local payment systems;
- Visa, MasterCard;
- Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, MuchBetter;
- Paysafecard;
- bank transfers through Polish banks.
Cryptocurrencies are banned in licensed casinos, but are actively used on illegal sites.
Responsible play
Poland has strict player protection measures:- minimum age - 18 years;
- the possibility of self-exclusion through the national registry (Rejestr Osób Wykluczonych z Gier Hazardowych);
- a ban on the use of credit funds for the game;
- restrictions on gambling advertising (only informative is allowed);
- licensed operators are required to display warnings about the risk of dependency.
Total Casino and the largest bookmakers are actively cooperating with the organizations Fundacja Inspiratornia and Stowarzyszenie Graj Odpowiedzialnie, promoting a responsible attitude towards gambling.
Economic importance
Poland's gambling industry brings the budget more than 5 billion zlotys (€1.1 billion) per year.
Of these:- about 70% comes from betting and lotteries;
- 30% - from online casinos (Total Casino) and offline establishments.
Totalizator Sportowy's activities directly support national sports, culture and social programs.
Challenges and challenges
The main problems of the Polish market:- state monopoly limits competition;
- high taxes make businesses unprofitable for private companies;
- massive outflow of players to offshore casinos;
- ineffective advertising of legal operators due to legislative restrictions.
Nevertheless, the Polish model is considered sustainable, as it provides a high level of protection for citizens and control over the circulation of funds.
Development prospects
The government is considering market liberalization by 2026, including:- issuing licenses to private online casinos following the example of the Czech Republic and the Netherlands;
- Tax update with transition to GGR model instead of turnover
- development of the AML monitoring system and gambling analytics;
- possible authorization for MF supervised crypto payments.
Poland is moving towards a gradual market opening while maintaining strict safety standards.
Thus, the country remains an example of controlled and socially responsible gambling, where the state balances between protecting citizens and developing the digital economy.
