Poland’s lower House of Parliament has approved a new Gambling Act with new regulations against unapproved online gambling and new player protections.
The act also increases the amount of games that can be offered online in the country.
“The new rules are also likely to increase the protection of players, including minors, from the negative effects of gambling and increase tax revenues from legal gambling,” according to a press release from the House. “The act, among other things, expands the list of games that can be offered on the internet, of which virtually all will be gambling.”
The Association of Employers and Employees of Bookmakers issued a statement saying the new rules will stem lost revenues to unlicensed online sites. The group said the country loses PLN6 billion (US$1.4 billion) in potential tax revenue due to illegal gambling activities.
“Until now, there have been extremely unfavorable conditions for bookmakers who are honestly doing business,” the association said in its own release. “As a result, about 90 percent of the online market is one of the entities operating in Poland that do not respect national law and do not pay taxes. They represent unfair competition for companies operating legally who pay taxes and employ thousands.”
The bill will now go before Poland’s Senate.
