Poland and Great Britain – it would seem that these two countries are different, both in their scale, infrastructure development, landscapes, or natural resources, but nevertheless, they have something in common. This commonality is in the gambling business. Poland has its kasyna w złotówkach and the UK has dollar-currency platforms, but that’s not all they have in common and today we’ll show you that.
Entertainment Markets
Only two types of gambling are officially recognized as legal in Poland: betting and special lotteries.
In this country, any provider, subject to legal requirements can become a holder of an official license for the provision of services for sports betting platforms.
According to data for autumn 2021, presented on the official website of the Ministry of Finance of Poland, the license to access admission to online betting in this country has twenty-one betting companies. Among the major global brands are the following:
- E-TOTO;
- TotalBet;
- Fortune;
- forBET;
- Mr BET;
- eWinner.
In Poland, Internet gambling platforms (casinos) are allowed by law, but still, they are subject to a monopoly established by the state itself. According to the cited information from the Ministry of Finance, the license for “other gambling” could only find the company Totalizator Sportowy.
The activity of such games as poker is also officially allowed in the country, but the game can be played only in land-based locations. Nevertheless, since 2017 gambling providers have had new opportunities for the implementation of their business in the country: the authorities have been allowed to develop card games, where any player can take part and in such games, there is even a cash prize. But there is a limit on the prize, and it is 500 euros. This means that poker can be organized also on the Internet, but with restrictions.
What about in the UK?
The laws of Great Britain allow building only in special areas designated for such development. At the same time to build a new institution, the builder must follow the established rule: the institution must be designed for 125000 people in the surrounding area.
Today in the UK has a hundred and forty casinos and a few clubs for poker, with a license. In the capital alone there are as many as twenty-five offline establishments.
This country also has its own laws that regulate the work of such institutions. Gambling houses are forbidden to work more than 14 hours a day. And if players lose all their money in such establishments, they are forbidden to lend or borrow money to continue the gambling process. In addition, in the premises where gambling takes place, it is forbidden to hold concerts, show programs during the game, including inviting famous singers or artists. Such establishments are quite often shut down if the law is not complied with.
Also, the law stipulates those requirements that the institution must comply with in order to obtain the appropriate permission (license) and the ability to provide such services. A license is required for almost everything: importing or installing equipment for the halls also requires special permission from the government. Besides, the license alone will not be enough – you will also have to go to the local authorities and get a special permit in order to be engaged in a gambling business in a particular territory.
Regarding gambling, the two countries are very similar in that all operators have to be licensed.
Gambling business in numbers
Since gambling is legal in Britain, it is not a bad business: the country earns about 16 billion euros a year! Online gambling and betting accounts for only up to €5 billion of the total; the casinos themselves give only 33% of the profits.
At the moment, the country is rich with 148 offline casino establishments, has almost 9 thousand betting points, 585 bingo halls, and about two hundred thousand slot machines! The workers in this industry, on the other hand, the number just over 100,000.
According to data from an experienced publisher, as of 2020, the gambling market in Poland is estimated by many experts at 1 billion dollars. And this is taking into account the fact that the country is still under regulation. At the same time, about 25% account for the offshore segment.
As of 2016, the number of such companies accounted for 4/5 of the entire gambling market in the country. But immediately after the legalization of lotteries and sports betting inside the country this figure dropped to ¼ and amounted to 165 million dollars.
Today, almost 80% of the entire Polish market is legalized and controlled by the operators. But still, experts see the following situation with constant legislation in the country: the growth of the regulated market will increase by 4% annually, but the illegal market will increase by 3,5% respectively.
Figures on the profitability and growth of the industry are almost similar in the UK and in Poland.
Taxes
Compared with the past, not much has changed in Britain: today the owners of gambling businesses are obliged to pay to the state the mandatory tax, which is 50% of the income received by the establishment. In this case, any kind of gambling activity has the same tax rate. But what is the situation in Poland?
Here there is also a tax on gambling business, and providers are obliged to pay it at any provision of services. Of course, immediately after obtaining an official license.
Tax rates in this country are different and are determined by the variant of entertainment:
- Sports betting on horse races, animal shows, and other games involving animals – 2.5%
- Bingo and lotteries – 10%;
- Sports betting – 12%.
- Lottery for money – 15%;
- Games based on numbers – 20%;
- Television Bingo, poker tournaments or lotteries with audio text – 25%;
- Roulette, slots, card games, craps, and others other than poker tournaments – 50%.
Looking at this criterion, one can make a clear conclusion that the Polish market is more favorable for operators regarding tax rates, unlike the British market, but do not forget that the ratio of income levels in these countries is also different, so the approximate profit of operators will be equal.
Conclusion
No matter how different such big countries may seem, they do have something in common and of course this “in common” can also be seen in the development of gambling. Thus, the countries have an obligation to license operators, regulate their activities, receive taxes from activities and prizes, as well as open access for the development of Internet entertainment.