What is difference between gambling in Poland and the UK?

Online gambling is well-developed in European countries. The majority of them try to regulate this sector on the governmental level. Some countries have a milder approach to gambling regulations. The other offers much stricter regulations. Such a dichotomy is a correlation between the gambling industry in Poland and the United Kingdom. Those looking for so-called “polskie legalne kasyna” in Poland may face the thought that their regulations are not as strict as compared to the UK gambling regulations. Is it true? Let’s analyze the differences in both countries.

Gambling regulations in Poland and the UK

The UK Gambling Commission is the official regulator that oversees the vast majority of the country’s gambling market. The exception is sports betting (bets on sports) controlled by the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit. However, although in Britain there have been established standards for gambling operators for years, state authorities are making the conditions more and more strict. This is connected, among other things, with the emergence of new directions in the distribution of gambling games, in particular the online segment, and complaints about non-payment of winnings.

In Poland, the law on gambling was adopted in 2009. In March 2021, the Polish authorities adopted a number of amendments to simplify the work of legal gambling operators. Amendments were added to the laws on the regulation of gambling to simplify the activities of licensed gambling operators and complicate the work of illegal companies. Hence, it is seen that the Polish gambling sector is less conservative as compared to the UK sector.

Which games are allowed?

In the United Kingdom, the list of legal and therefore licensed gambling includes the following: 

• casinos, 
• bingo, 
• all types of betting, 
• slot machines, 
• lotteries, 
• online gambling.

In Poland, the following types of gambling are permitted and regulated by law: 

• casino games (poker, roulette, blackjack, slot machines, bingo, etc.) 
• totalizers and bookmakers. 
• Lotteries.

The main difference with the UK is that online casino activity is prohibited in Poland. With this in mind, there are many development companies operating in the country that specializes in creating virtual slots and are aimed at the foreign market.

Gambling restrictions imposed in both countries

 Since 2021, the UK government has banned the sale of lottery tickets and scratch cards to gamblers under 18. Minors were prohibited from participating in online lotteries. It used to be used to give kids instant win games that are a gateway to more complex gambling. However, the attitude of the UK population towards gambling is different. The international think tank surveyed more than 18,000 respondents in the UK to find out their attitudes towards online gambling and online betting. It turned out that many Britons are critical of their chances of winning, and a fifth did not think at all about the fact that you can play online. Young people there are very concerned about the harm caused by gambling. They are not sure that their credit cards are securely protected in the casino.

The situation in Poland is slightly different. The number of young people engaged in casinos is much greater. But they face other restrictions connected to the gambling sector. For example, advertising gambling activities in Poland is prohibited and strictly punishable by law. It is not allowed to advertise and promote casino gambling, card games, betting, and slot machine services.

Final words

As can be seen, it is difficult to say exactly which situation is better. Both Polish and UK regulations are acceptable and allow players to enjoy fair play online. However, the UK approach is somewhat more conservative but is examplar for many European countries.