Will Poland Permit More Online Gaming Operators and Online Games?
Polish gaming regulators are considering to implement some legislative changes in order to loosen the country's tight gaming restrictions, which could then eventually allow foreign operators to legally offer their games to Polish players.
Currently in Poland, most forms of online gaming are prohibited creating a gray market, which could be costing the country PLN 600 million ($178 million) in tax revenues.
Only a handful of online gaming operators have been granted licenses under the strict laws that only allow sports betting to be offered to Polish players by operators registered in Poland.
According to G3Newswire, this could be about to change with a handful of amendments tabled this year. These could open the market to European gambling operators as well as additional forms of online gaming, including online poker.
One of the amendments being considered would enable European gambling operators to obtain a Polish online gaming licence by applying through a Polish branch or subsidiary. Under the proposal, these gaming operators would be required to offer services under a dot-pl domain and be subject to all the requirements and taxes currently required by law.
The amendment also would mandate that all licensed sites develop a thorough responsible gaming policy, and that policy must also be publicized on the operator's website.
A separate proposed amendment addresses the possibility of the country allowing limited forms of online poker, including poker tournaments. The amendment would allow poker tournaments between players to be conducted without a license provided that the total prize pool does not exceed PLN 760 ($225). Poker offered via an operator would still only be permitted in licensed land-based casinos.
It is unclear whether there are any intentions for the Polish regulators to increase the current 12-percent gaming tax being levied on the turnover on the country's licensed online gaming operators. However, it is believed there is no language included in any of the amendments regarding any potential tax changes.
Stay tuned at PokerNews as more develops in the Polish gaming marketplace.
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