Poland's Online Casinos: Internet Gambling in Poland

In Poland, people say "powodzenia" when they want to wish another person good luck. Unsurprisingly, it's a phrase that gets used often, given the popularity of gambling in physical and online casinos in the country. Online gambling, in particular, is appealing for many reasons.

For one thing, online casinos are easily accessible at home or on mobile devices when one is on the go. Also, the ability to play several games at the same time makes gameplay more exciting. As a result, online gambling is on a growth trajectory in many countries, Poland included.

Overview of Poland's Gambling History

Gambling has a long and storied past that dates from Paleolithic times, long before written history. In Poland, gambling isn't quite that old, but its history is interesting too. Lottery games were being played in the 18th century, but it wasn't until the 20th century that Poland's first casino opened, in the seaside city of Sopot in the north. Several other casinos opened in Krakow and Warsaw, but they all shut down after World War II, casualties of Russia's Red Army.

Poland launched its national lottery, the Totalizator Sportowy, in 1955. But it wasn't until 1989 that the country had its first modern casino, one opened by Casinos Poland. Polish gambling laws were quite lax in the 1990s, leading to a surplus of foreign operators entering the local gambling scene.

This all changed in 2009 when revelations of corruption in the online gambling industry spurred the passage of the Gambling Act. Under this law, all forms of online gambling, except for sports betting and lotteries, were declared to be illegal.

Online Gambling Law in Poland

Though gambling is legal in Poland, it gets a bit more complicated when it comes to laws governing online gambling. Online casinos without a license from the Polish government are blocked by Internet service providers (ISPs); indeed, more than 8,000 casino sites have been banned from the country.

However, there are nearly double the number of offshore online casinos that accept players from Poland. In fact, gambling industry experts estimate that foreign online casinos comprise approximately 60% of Poland's overall gambling market. Also, some Internet-based gambling sites go around the ban on unlicensed online casinos by acquiring a sports betting license, which is legal in Poland.

Popular Online Gambling Sites in Poland

Many of Poland's legal betting sites, such as STS and forBET, focus largely on sports betting and fixed-odds betting. Totolotek, operated by a government-owned entity, is one of the largest online gambling sites; however, its emphasis is on lotto games.

Luckily, there's a vast array of choices when it comes to foreign online casinos that welcome Polish players. Some of the most popular are the following:

• PlayMillion - Launched in 2012, this SkillonNet-operated online casino offers video slots, roulettes, tables games, blackjack, and video poker. All their games, including the live casino, are accessible on mobile devices.

• PlayGrand - In addition to a wide variety of online casino games, PlayGrand appeals to plenty of gamblers because of its generous bonuses and promotions. Established in 2012, the casino is a sister site to SpinStation, Temple Nile, and Spinrider.

• No Bonus - Unlike most other online casinos, No Bonus does not offer deposit bonuses. What it does instead is to provide a partial refund of money that players lose on their wagers. Part of the L&L Europe Ltd. Casinos family, No Bonus enjoys a reputation for simplicity, straightforwardness, and game diversity.