PokerPages > Poker News > Poker News
Poland to Legalize Online Poker and Online Gambling
Wed, Apr 4th, 2007 @ 12:00am
Poland is planning to introduce regulations to license and tax online gambling similar to those in Italy, according to a recent article in the Polish newspaper, The Warsaw Voice, signaling that European markets continue to open up for online poker and online gambling.
Poland's decision follows the favorable ruling for online poker and online gambling in the Placanica case by the European Court of Justice (ECoJ) in March (click here to read related PokerPages article).
The courts ruled that Italy cannot use criminal law to ban gaming companies licensed in another EU nation from taking bets in Italy.
The court's ruling concerns three bookmakers who had accepted bets in Italy on behalf of British-licensed firm Stanley International Betting (SIB), where SIB had no license to conduct bookmaking business in Italy.
The ruling says that an online gambling operator who holds a license issued in one EU member state has the right to provide similar services throughout the European Union.
"National regulations that prohibit the acceptance of bets unless one has a license issued by the relevant member state restrict the freedom of services," said the court in substantiating its decision.
Under current Polish law, it is illegal to take part in gambling games offered from companies located in other countries.
But the number of online gambling sites doing business in Poland has been on a rapid rise, for several reasons.
First, it is practically impossible to enforce the ban on their operation. Second, costs are much higher to operate land-based casinos and arcades, and there are statutory restrictions on advertising them in Polish media. Third, Poland currently does not tax online gambling. Fourth, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) passed last October caused online gaming sites to look for customers outside of the huge US market.
The Polish finance ministry is working to amend the gambling law to regulate and tax online gambling companies, similar to the way the UK's Gambling Act of 2005 will do when it comes into force this September, and how Italy began to January 2007 (click here to see related PokerPages article on Italy).
The Italian government now collects a 3% tax from gaming companies on gaming revenues that Italian customers generate.
The value of the Polish market for online gambling (including online poker), lotteries and bookmakers is estimated to run into hundreds of millions or even billions of zlotys.
Analyses by the Gdansk Institute for Market Economics (IBnGR) show that such a move could on its own bring in extra annual receipts for the state budget of zl.133 million (USD 46.1 million, or GBP 23.3 million or EUR 34.5 million) from tax on gambling and an extra zl.12 million from income tax (USD 4.16 million, or GBP 2.11 million or EUR 3.11 million).
Read Related Articles:
Discuss this article in our forum
Print this articleMore Poker News Articles
PokerStars to Sponsor Irish Poker Championship
12am Wed Mar 31st, 2010
PokerStars.com, the world's largest online poker site, just announced that they will throw their substantial weight behind one of Ireland's major poker festivals, The Irish Poker Championship (IPC), as part of the new PokerStars.com UK and Ireland Poker Tour.
UIGEA Delayed 6 Months in Temporary Victory for Online Poker
12am Thu Dec 3rd, 2009
Days before the December 1 deadline for implementing the UIGEA, the U.S. government announced a six-month postponement of the poorly defined anti-gambling regulations. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board jointly released a statement moving the deadline for UIGEA compliance to June 1, 2010.
Fabrice Soulier Joins Everest Poker's Pro Roster
12am Thu Nov 26th, 2009
To further strengthen its support for French poker in anticipation of the opening of that market, Everest Poker has signed renowned French poker pro Fabrice Soulier as its latest ambassador.
HHPT Co-Sponsors Bayou Poker Challenge Ladies Event Dec. 20
12am Wed Nov 25th, 2009
The HighHeelsPokerTour (HHPT), the first all women's poker tour launched on the East coast, will wrap up their 2009 schedule at Harrah's New Orleans on December 20th where they will co-sponsor the Ladies Event #14 no-limit Hold'em at 12 pm.
OPPAGA Reports on Florida's Online Poker Options
12am Tue Nov 24th, 2009
Given that UIGEA permits individual states to regulate online poker, the Florida Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) published a report this week presenting three options available to Florida State lawmakers in order to protect consumers from unlawful internet poker: regulate it, prohibit it, or carry on with the status quo pending federal legislation.
BC Poker Champion Arrested, Charged with Manslaughter
12am Tue Nov 24th, 2009
Just two days after taking down the BC Poker Championships Main Event, Sophon Sek of Cloverdale, BC, was arrested in connection with one of the most storied crimes in the Province's history.
Local Businessman Bags European Poker Tour Vilamoura Bling
12am Sun Nov 22nd, 2009
The European Poker Tour rolled into the Casino Vilamoura last week, instantly generating the richest poker prize pool in the nation of Portugal's history.
Keikoan Captures Harvey's Lake Tahoe WSOPC Championship
12am Thu Nov 19th, 2009
This week marked the finale of the biggest annual tournament series in Northern Nevada, the WSOP Circuit championship at Harvey's Lake Tahoe. While the Main Event saw only a modest turnout, it did boast of a tough final table, and a WSOP bracelet owner as the eventual champion.
WSOP Main Event Champ Joe Cada to Appear on Letterman
12am Wed Nov 18th, 2009
The poker world will receive some late night attention tonight as "The Kid" Joe Cada, the youngest champion in the four decade history of the World Series of Poker Main Event, takes a seat next to embattled talk show host David Letterman.
First Korean Champ of Asia Pacific Poker Tour Crowned in Cebu
12am Tue Nov 17th, 2009
Another stop on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour is in the books, this time it's the APPT Cebu in the Philippines, and for the very first time a Korean player has come out on top.
