Poland’s gambling landscape faced fresh scrutiny this week after the election of President Karol Nawrocki on June 2, with industry leaders saying the direction of reform hinges on political will—not party alliances
A confidence vote for Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s coalition set for June 11 could tilt the balance of power. Should Tusk survive, there might be room for cautious reform; if not, President Nawrocki’s Law & Justice (PiS) party is likely to entrench the current monopoly, maintaining direct state control through Totalizator Sportowy, which remains the only licensed operator of online casinos under the 2017 Gambling Act
Despite Poland’s regulatory clampdown, the gray market has remained entrenched, contributing an estimated €57 billion (PLN 230 bn) offshore since 2017—leaving the state short PLN 5.8 bn (US $1.4 bn) in lost tax revenue
Industry experts—including former Totalizator Sportowy Chairman Wojciech Szpil—argue that the current monopoly model fails to curb illegal play and is ripe for modernization
Pan-European panels also suggest structural reforms, such as introducing a licensing system and aligning Poland with broader EU regulatory trends . With Nawrocki’s presidency cementing PiS influence, the June 11 vote becomes pivotal—it will either keep Poland locked in its restrictive, state-run system or open a path toward liberalization and modern regulation.
