New Polish Gambling Act Approved

POLISH LAWMAKERS FINALLY APPROVE NEW GAMBLING ACT
 
But online gambling will be the exclusive preserve of the state-owned Totalizator Sportowy.
 
Lawmakers in Poland have finally approved amendments to the national Gambling Act, which now awaits only the presidential imprimatur before being implemented, with an effective date of April 1 2017 (hopefully that has no negative implications!)
 
There is little in the finished bill that has not already been widely discussed and criticized, but here are a few of the key online elements:
 
* Online casino, bingo and poker games will be permitted in addition to the already legal online sports betting and lottery products…but these will be the exclusive preserve of the state-owned Totalizator Sportowy;
 
* The prohibitive tax rate of 12 percent based on turnover remains;
 
* There are enforcement provisions that include ISP and financial transaction blocking.
 
Other provisions relate to land gambling aspects of the Polish industry.