Polish Players Hesitate to Report Offshore Gambling Sites Over Fear of Criminal Penalties

^{Pictured: 17th European Economic Congress, Katowice, 2025}

At the 17th European Economic Congress held April 23–25 in Katowice, panelists raised concerns about how much Poland’s regulated betting market is losing to offshore gambling. Experts estimate that since 2017, Polish bettors have funneled around €50 billion into unlicensed platforms, with the government missing out on €1.3 billion in taxes.

One of the main drivers of Poland’s growing black market is its current legal framework. While Article 107, Paragraph 1 of Poland’s Fiscal Penal Code threatens organizers of unauthorized gambling with steep fines and up to three years in prison, these penalties don’t apply to companies licensed in offshore jurisdictions like Curaçao or Anjouan. Polish law simply has no reach over them.

Paragraph 2 of the same article, however, targets players themselves. Under current law, Polish citizens who place bets on offshore sites without a local license risk being fined up to 120 day rates — calculated based on income — which could range from €2 to €460 per day.

As a result, Polish users who experience fraud, refusal to pay out winnings, or other violations on offshore platforms are unlikely to contact police or regulatory bodies, knowing they themselves could be penalized.

This legal paradox leaves offshore operators unchecked. With no enforcement risk, these companies continue targeting the Polish market with impunity.

The only way forward, according to gambling law expert Justyna Grusza-Głębicka, is legal reform. Many bettors may not even realize they’re using platforms that lack a Polish license. Rather than penalizing users, she argues, the focus should shift toward consumer protection and public awareness.