Across most of Europe, online casinos are well established. In different countries, there are varying degrees of regulation regarding online gambling, with some countries having a milder approach to regulation than others. While both Poland and the UK have differing approaches to regulating online gambling, both countries allow players to enjoy betting and playing casino games online. In this article, we will examine the approach of the two different countries when it comes to regulating the online gambling market.
Which gambling activities are legalised in both countries?
The types of online gambling activities legalised in the UK and Poland differ somewhat, with each country offering varying degrees of legalisation and restriction. While the Polish gambling laws do not distinguish between land-based gambling and online gambling, it includes provisions that apply to forms of gambling that are conducted via the internet.
In Poland, the “Gambling Law” allows for the following types of gambling activity:
- Casino games (such as bingo, slot machines, poker, roulette, and blackjack)
- Betting – totalisator systems and bookmaking. The latter is the more popular form.
- Lotteries. The gambling law outlines four types of lotteries, and every kind of lottery is regulated in a different way.
In the UK, the following types of gambling are permitted:
- Casinos
- Betting (all types)
- Slot machines
- Lotteries
- Online gambling
- Bingo
One significant difference between the UK and Poland is that online casino games are permitted in the UK. This means individuals can play anything from blackjack and roulette to slot games and bingo from the comfort of their own homes, and they do not need to visit a land-based casino to enjoy such games.
What are the restrictions on gambling in the two countries?
Like in the UK, the minimum age for gambling in Poland is 18. In addition to this, there are other restrictions on the gambling sector. Advertising any activities related to gambling is prohibited, and those who disregard this will be punished by law. This means that any adverts that promote betting, slot machines, casino gambling, or playing card games for money are disallowed. In Poland, online bookmakers are permitted, and the national lottery company is able to offer its products online.
Additionally, a 2011 amendment to the 2009 gambling act allows for the operation of online betting sites, and internet raggles and lotteries, but there are severe restrictions. Citizens are restricted from gambling on any online sites that aren’t regulated and approved by the government. If anyone wishes to set up any type of gambling business, they must contact the National Revenue Administration, whose website is also available in English.
In the UK, the government banned the sale of lottery tickets and scratch cards to those under 18. However, advertising gambling is permitted under law, as long as it’s undertaken in a “socially responsible manner”.
In both Poland and the UK, winnings from slot machines, casinos, card games, raffles, and bingo are exempt from personal income tax. As a result of comparing the gambling laws between the two countries, it’s evident that the variety of online gambling activities available in the UK is more vast. However, both countries do allow at least some forms of online gambling activity.