Panel of European Economic Congress demands termination of Poland's monopoly.

 Given Poland's monopoly is out of pace with the rest of Europe, an expert panel has argued in support of eliminating it.
 Sporty Totaliser Sportowy
 Held on April 24 as part of the European Economic Congress, the panel urged more state action in Poland to combat illegal gaming sites and thereby terminate Poland's monopoly over iGaming.

 President Zdzislaw Kostrubala of Poland's gambling trade organisation (Graj Legalnie) claimed during the event the monopoly model is a "anachronism" in today's environment.

 Sports betting is allowed to private operators in Poland, but only one official online casino run by state-owned Totalisator Sportowy.

 Nevertheless, the panel observed, the Polish population seems not to know what is legal or criminal.

 Kostrubala cited statistics released by the Ministry of Finance alleging the existence and ongoing creation of 50,000 domains of unlawful games.

 He claimed, however, it is impossible to block all illegal sites and that this enforcement activity has evolved into a "cat-and-mouse game" between state and illicit players.

 "As an association, we definitely have nothing against control.  We oppose laws that are ineffective, Kostrubala remarked.

 "I cannot see us maintaining the present status quo and yet improving our social, economic, and competitive situation."

 Poland's gaming monopoly defies the reality of the market.
 Vice President of the Warsaw Enterprise Institute Piotr Palutkiewicz informed the panel the law and monopoly model did not fit the reality of the market.

 "Even a consumer who wants to play legally, without knowing that he is dealing with only one legal entity, will inadvertently and unknowingly start playing at illegal casinos anyhow," Palutkowicz remarked.

 Some EU countries seem to have a regular problem with public ignorance of legality.  According to a recent study by the Swedish regulator, Spelinspektionen, 72% of Swedish gamblers did not know which items are licenced vs illegal.

 Poland is among only a few markets remaining under monopoly, Palutkowicz observed.

 "The experience of EU countries shows almost all countries have already introduced a licencing system," Palutkowicz said.

 The most recent country to declare a change from its historic gaming monopoly system is Finland.  Published in July, it presented a draft law suggesting private operators in January 2027 for its online betting sector.  By June, the measure is supposed to be voted upon in parliament.

 This develops from the market liberalisation Sweden underwent in 2019.

 Although Norway is the only Nordic nation still with a gambling monopoly in force, this may change as many political parties in their September 2025 manifestos show support for an open market.

 Danger from illicit websites
 The panel on grey and black markets recognised the harm illegal sites posed to the state and consumers.

 It quoted statistics showing PLN230 billion ($61 billion) had shifted via gaming operations to tax havens.  Lost taxes from this had cost the state PLN5.8 billion ($1.5 billion).

 Olgierd Cieślik, former chairwoman of state monopoly Totalisator Sportowy, claimed the battle against the grey market lacked speed.  Cieślik pointed out that in terms of participants, the monopoly is predicted to expand about 5% of the legal market.

 He did, however, also mention the criminal market, in terms of sales, coming up with the legal.

 "Turnover, in terms of legal market income for last year, comes to PLN67 billion.  The illicit one comes at PLN65 billion.  And it is expanding really forcefully, Cieślik remarked.

 For gaming authorities all throughout Europe, especially with stricter rules including deposit limits and financial vulnerability checks, dropping channelisation is a regular struggle.

 Another former Totalisator Sportowy chairman, Wojciech Szpil, claimed problems with law application in Poland persisted.  He claimed Poland lagged behind contemporary markets.

 Szpil further said, "The state has not kept up with the law to really get ahead of what the market can offer."

 He insisted more might be done to handle the "shadow economy" resulting from offshore licencing systems like Malta, Gibraltar, or Curaçao.  He did observe, though, that this would call for Ministry of Finance or National Tax Administration activity.

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