The short answer: yes, but only one. One internet casino operates legally in Poland — Total Casino, run by the state company Totalizator Sportowy under a State Treasury monopoly. Every other casino site you can reach from a Polish connection relies on a foreign licence and holds no Ministry of Finance licence.
Below we take that legal position apart: where the monopoly came from, what the individual provisions say, what the domain register is, how the tax on winnings works, and where the player personally stands. This is information, not legal advice — for an individual matter, consult a lawyer. If you have recently moved to Poland, the rules here are considerably stricter than in most of Western Europe, so it is worth reading before you sign up anywhere.
The legal basis: the Gambling Act of 2009
The market is governed by the Act of 19 November 2009 on gambling games (ustawa o grach hazardowych). For its first years it mainly concerned land-based casinos and betting; the turning point was the amendment that took effect on 1 April 2017. It introduced three things that still shape the Polish market today:
- A state monopoly on online casino games — exercised by a single-shareholder State Treasury company. This is what led to Total Casino launching in December 2018.
- The register of domains used to offer gambling in breach of the Act (art. 15f) — the DNS-blocking and payment-blocking mechanism.
- Tougher liability for organising, and for taking part in, games run in breach of the rules.
The history of the legislation and a walkthrough of the key articles are on our Gambling Act page.
What is legal and what is not
| Situation | Status under Polish law |
|---|---|
| Playing at Total Casino (MF licence) | Legal |
| Betting with an operator holding an MF permit | Legal |
| A land-based casino with a concession | Legal |
| An online casino licensed in Curaçao, Anjouan, Malta etc. | No MF licence — an offer aimed at Poland breaches the Act |
| Advertising and promoting casino games | Prohibited (art. 29), penalised under art. 110a of the Fiscal Penal Code |
| Taking part in a game run in breach of the Act | Penalised under art. 107 of the Fiscal Penal Code |
| Promotional and prize lotteries with a permit | Legal |
The state monopoly (art. 5)
Article 5 reserves to the state, among other things, the running of casino games over the internet. The monopoly is exercised by Totalizator Sportowy — the same company that runs Lotto. In practice this means no private entity, Polish or foreign, can obtain a Polish online casino licence. There is no procedure by which a foreign casino could “become legal” in Poland — which is why the phrase “casino with a Polish licence”, applied to a foreign-licensed site, is simply untrue.
The advertising ban (art. 29)
The Act prohibits advertising and promoting cylindrical games, card games, dice games and slot machine games, and prohibits publicising sponsorship by such operators. The exceptions relate chiefly to betting conducted under a permit. Breaching the ban carries fiscal penal liability under art. 110a of the Fiscal Penal Code — a fine running to hundreds of daily rates.
This is why the Polish market looks the way it does: the licensed operator communicates sparingly, while offshore sites are promoted through channels that are harder to police. For a reader it means one thing — advertising has to be told apart from information, and publishers should be clear about how they earn. We are, on our about us page.
The domain register (art. 15f)
The Minister of Finance keeps a public register of domains used to offer gambling in breach of the Act, at hazard.mf.gov.pl. An entry triggers two mechanisms:
- A DNS block — telecoms providers cut access to the domain and redirect the user to a Ministry of Finance information page.
- A payment block — payment service providers stop processing transactions in favour of the entity behind the listed domain.
The register now holds tens of thousands of entries and is topped up regularly, including with further mirror domains belonging to the same operators. How to use it, and exactly what an entry means, is on the MF domain register page and in the guide what a register entry means.
Where the player stands (art. 107 of the Fiscal Penal Code)
The Fiscal Penal Code penalises both organising games in breach of the rules and taking part in games run abroad or in breach of the Act. The provisions carry a fine, and in aggravated cases harsher consequences. In practice enforcement concentrates on organisers, but the exposure on the player’s side exists formally and should not be waved away.
We say this plainly: we do not assess individual situations and we do not give legal advice. We describe the state of the rules so that your decision is an informed one.
Tax on winnings
Gambling winnings are exempt up to PLN 2,280 under art. 21(1)(6a) of the Personal Income Tax Act. Above that threshold a flat 10 % tax applies. The practical difference that matters:
- Total Casino — the operator withholds the tax as paying agent, and the player does not report the win in a PIT return;
- a foreign casino — nobody withholds tax for the player; the duty to declare falls on them, on a PIT-36 return.
Calculator and detail: tax on winnings; the practical step-by-step version is in the guide tax on casino winnings. For anything beyond the simple case, consult a tax adviser — particularly if you are not sure whether you are tax-resident in Poland.
Foreign licences — what they actually mean
Sites reachable from Poland usually cite licences from Curaçao, Anjouan, Malta (MGA), Kahnawake or Estonia. Each is valid in its own jurisdiction and says something about the operator’s standards — but none replaces a Polish licence or legalises an offer aimed at players in Poland. The differences between them (scope of supervision, complaint routes, operator requirements) are set out on online casino licences.
Pages in this section
- OOnline casino licences — MF, MGA, Curaçao, Anjouan
- TTax on casino winnings in Poland — 10 % above PLN 2,280
- TThe MF domain register — how it works and what it means
- TThe Polish Gambling Act — a guide to the key articles
- TTotal Casino vs offshore casinos — the comparison
If you want the “one legal casino versus the rest of the market” comparison as a decision table, see Total Casino vs offshore casinos. Gambling is 18+ and can be addictive; the free helpline in Poland is 801 889 880, and support in English is listed on responsible gambling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online casinos legal in Poland?
One is — Total Casino, run by Totalizator Sportowy under the state monopoly. All other sites operate on foreign licences and hold no Ministry of Finance licence.
Is a casino with an MGA licence legal in Poland?
Not within the meaning of the Polish Act. A Maltese licence is valid in its own jurisdiction but does not authorise offering casino games to players in Poland. Polish law provides only for a state monopoly here.
Can a player be penalised?
The Fiscal Penal Code provides for liability for taking part in games run in breach of the rules (art. 107). That is a statement of the legal position, not an assessment of any particular case — for an individual matter, speak to a lawyer.
How do I check whether a casino is in the domain register?
Type the domain into the register search at hazard.mf.gov.pl. The register is public and free to use. We describe the procedure in a separate guide.
From what amount is tax due on a win?
The exemption covers winnings up to PLN 2,280. Above that, a flat 10 % tax applies. At Total Casino the operator withholds it; with foreign casinos the player settles it.
Is casino advertising allowed in Poland?
No. Art. 29 of the Gambling Act prohibits advertising and promoting casino games, and art. 110a of the Fiscal Penal Code provides for a fine. The exceptions concern mainly betting conducted under a permit.