Poland has allowed gambling and casinos for many years. In fact, it has a long history while also ensuring it is profitable and responsible for players. As such, the market is relatively competitive while also thriving. Importantly, the market is well regulated and worth in excess of PLN 41 billion.
Let’s take a look at the current Polish gambling scene and what casino players need to know before they start playing.
Gambling legalization
In the last few years, the gambling industry has boomed, and the number of Polish bettors is on the rise source: Kasyno Polska. This is thanks to Poland legalizing betting in many forms back in 2009. After the enactment of the Gambling Act, gambling in Poland became safer. In fact, it’s got stricter regulations than many of its neighboring countries. It’s also likely that the industry has exploded in recent years simply because players have more money to spend, thanks to positive economic developments.
Unlike other countries, the gambling laws in Poland don’t actually differ between online and land-based casinos. Rather, it looks at the specific game types for categorization, including games of chance (bingo or lotteries), betting (sports), card games (poker and blackjack), and slot machines. Many of these games come under the State monopoly with the Finance Minister governing the gambling industry. All of this means that there are licenses, careful management and more in place.
That being said, there are still illegal casinos in Poland. There are many that do not hold a license in the country and still make a massive turnover. However, if they are caught, there are some serious penalties in place, including fines and jail time.
What does this mean?
While operators have to abide by these strict regulations in order not to get penalized, the same is not true of the actual players. If a player can access an illegal site, that is a risk that the player will have to handle themselves. Unlicensed casinos simply mean that there are no safeguards in place for the player. As such, should the casino prove fraudulent, they could abscond with all the player’s money rather than paying out. And this is why Poland’s government works so hard to provide a safe, regulated gambling industry.
So, for players who are looking to gamble but want to do so safely, then choosing a licensed Polish casino is the only way. There are certain requirements, though. Poles are required to provide verification in line with money laundering laws. This helps the casino operators know who the player is and also how old they are. Age is important as there is a minimum betting age of 18 within the country. Underage gambling is strictly prohibited as it is elsewhere in the world.
Games available
There are a multitude of games available for Polish players. Under the games of chance category, players can enjoy dice games, bingo, cash lotteries, raffles, and bingo. For betting or sports betting, players can place bets on a wide army of different sports both online and at land-based venues. Card games include blackjack, baccarat, and poker. Each of these games can be played online, or in land-based casinos. Finally, slot games, one of the most popular options, can be played throughout the country and online. These come in a wide array of themes and in-game bonuses to make them truly exciting.
At the end of the day, it’s easy for Polish players to find an array of casinos and betting options. Better still, choosing a licensed one is easy and means getting access to safe, secure gambling with a range of responsible gambling tools in place.