CALLS GROW TO LIBERALIZE POLAND'S iGAMING SECTOR
Highlights
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Poland, including regions of Central and Eastern Europe, supports liberalizing the iGaming market.
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Dilemma over the necessity of reform in the current gambling framework.
Strict advertising rules and a return to focusing on tax rates suggest that regulators across the Nordic and southern European regions have adopted rigid gambling policies to combat lower channelization and resurgent gambling markets.
In regions like Poland and parts of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), there has been a prevailing discussion over the regulation of iGaming.
Piotr Palutkiewicz, general director of the Warsaw Enterprise Institute, said, “The Polish gambling market is legally unusual”. Here, Land-based casinos, bingo halls,s and slot machines operate under licences. Online sports betting is subject to a 12% tax and is allowed only for private operators.
He strongly opposes the idea that a monopoly helps channel and control the industry, stating that “because it is technically impossible to eliminate offshore operators.” Additionally, he mentions that “around 55,000 websites have been blocked.”
Across Western Europe, post-liberalization was immediately followed by regulatory retrenchment. Strict advertising rules and higher taxes in certain jurisdictions have coincided with declining channelization and increased offshore activity.
Polish policymakers use it to support their claims, suggesting there is no need to move away from a monopoly market, even as they witness challenges in competitive markets elsewhere. Operators are very keen to highlight the economic benefits of liberalizing the iGaming market, citing the Super Bet case study.
Piotr Palutkiewicz notes that the iGaming industry in Poland has been a challenging market, as it has a large consumer base that is open to technology and passionate about sports.
On the other hand, it is also known as a highly regulated framework in Europe, including taxes and product limitations.
Channelization has been an issue as Płota predicts that “around 40% of online casino activity is illegal. It highlights that 1.2 million Polish citizens engage with unregulated sites annually”.
With neighbouring territories facing issues with competitive licensing, it poses challenges to liberalizing the market in the region. Dilemma over whether to let the market continue or introduce reforms.
For the full news story, Read Here!
In regions like Poland and parts of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), there has been a prevailing discussion over the regulation of iGaming.
Piotr Palutkiewicz, general director of the Warsaw Enterprise Institute, said, “The Polish gambling market is legally unusual”. Here, Land-based casinos, bingo halls,s and slot machines operate under licences. Online sports betting is subject to a 12% tax and is allowed only for private operators.
He strongly opposes the idea that a monopoly helps channel and control the industry, stating that “because it is technically impossible to eliminate offshore operators.” Additionally, he mentions that “around 55,000 websites have been blocked.”
Across Western Europe, post-liberalization was immediately followed by regulatory retrenchment. Strict advertising rules and higher taxes in certain jurisdictions have coincided with declining channelization and increased offshore activity.
Polish policymakers use it to support their claims, suggesting there is no need to move away from a monopoly market, even as they witness challenges in competitive markets elsewhere. Operators are very keen to highlight the economic benefits of liberalizing the iGaming market, citing the Super Bet case study.
Piotr Palutkiewicz notes that the iGaming industry in Poland has been a challenging market, as it has a large consumer base that is open to technology and passionate about sports.
On the other hand, it is also known as a highly regulated framework in Europe, including taxes and product limitations.
Channelization has been an issue as Płota predicts that “around 40% of online casino activity is illegal. It highlights that 1.2 million Polish citizens engage with unregulated sites annually”.
With neighbouring territories facing issues with competitive licensing, it poses challenges to liberalizing the market in the region. Dilemma over whether to let the market continue or introduce reforms.
For the full news story, Read Here!
