EEC Urges End to Poland’s Gambling Monopoly

Poland’s outdated gambling monopoly is under fire. At the 2025 European Economic Congress, industry leaders, economists, and regulators united to call for a major overhaul of the country’s gambling laws, urging a shift to an open licensing model and stronger measures against illegal gambling sites.

Currently, Poland maintains a restrictive framework: sports betting is open to private operators, but online casino operations are monopolized by the state-owned Totalizator Sportowy. Despite this, Polish consumers often lack awareness about which sites are legal. This confusion drives many to illegal platforms, undermining both player protection and state tax revenues.

Zdzislaw Kostrubala, President of Poland’s gambling trade association Graj Legalnie, called the monopoly model an “anachronism” unfit for today’s dynamic gambling market. He stressed that “we are not against regulation; we are against regulation that does not work.”

Data shared at the panel was alarming: the Ministry of Finance estimates that around 50,000 illegal gambling domains have existed or continue to operate, creating a cat-and-mouse game between regulators and illegal operators.

Panelists pointed out that even consumers trying to play legally can unintentionally drift into illegal spaces because they are unaware there is only one legal online casino operator.

Piotr Palutkiewicz, Vice President of the Warsaw Enterprise Institute, emphasized, “The law and monopoly model are not in line with the market’s reality.” He added that nearly all EU countries have adopted licensing systems, with Finland being the latest to announce a shift from its historic gambling monopoly. Norway, too, may soon follow, as political support for an open market gains momentum ahead of the 2025 elections.

Critically, the economic losses are staggering. It’s estimated that PLN230 billion ($61 billion) has flowed to offshore tax havens through gambling activities, costing Poland PLN5.8 billion ($1.5 billion) in lost tax revenues.

Speakers urged the Ministry of Finance and the National Tax Administration to take decisive action. They stressed that modernizing Poland’s regulatory framework is essential not just for economic competitiveness but also for curbing illegal gambling, protecting consumers, and reclaiming lost state revenue.

Experts at European Economic Congress Demand End to Poland’s Gambling Monopoly and Push for Reform

Key Points

• Industry Push for Reform: Experts call Poland’s gambling monopoly outdated, urging a shift to an open licensing model.
• Illegal Gambling Threat: PLN230 billion has reportedly been funneled offshore, costing the Polish state PLN5.8 billion in taxes.
• EU Trends Favor Liberalization: Countries like Finland and Sweden have already moved to open markets; Norway may soon follow.

Poland’s Gambling Market Faces a Crucial Crossroads

The panel at the European Economic Congress painted a stark picture: Poland’s gambling market, long governed by a rigid monopoly, is falling behind European peers. While Totalizator Sportowy remains the sole legal online casino operator, illegal gambling platforms are flourishing.

Former Totalizator Sportowy chairman Olgierd Cieślik warned that the illegal market is nearly matching the legal sector in turnover. Last year, legal gambling turnover stood at PLN67 billion, while illegal gambling reached PLN65 billion—and is growing rapidly.

Experts stressed that the country’s monopoly model no longer serves its intended purpose. Instead of safeguarding the market, it limits competition, stifles innovation, and drives players into unregulated spaces. Without significant changes, Poland risks losing even more tax revenue and weakening player protections.

Former Totalizator Sportowy chairman Wojciech Szpil argued that Poland’s legal framework has failed to keep pace with market realities. He highlighted that many offshore platforms—licensed in Malta, Gibraltar, or Curaçao—capitalize on these regulatory gaps, drawing Polish players away from local offerings.

Importantly, speakers noted that cracking down on the illegal market requires more than just enforcement. It demands structural reform: legalizing and licensing more operators, clarifying the rules for consumers, and creating a modern, competitive market aligned with European standards.

Poland’s gambling industry stands at a decisive moment. As neighboring countries embrace open licensing systems and crack down on illegal operations, Poland’s monopoly model looks increasingly unsustainable. To secure its market, protect consumers, and reclaim lost tax revenues, Poland must act boldly. Industry experts, regulators, and political leaders now face a clear choice: preserve a failing status quo or drive meaningful reform that aligns the Polish gambling sector with modern European best practices.