WARSAW: The iPoker network has become the latest industry player to cease offering online gambling services in Poland, following the introduction of a new regulatory regime.
The new gambling law, which was introduced on April 1, 2017, attempts to liberalize the Polish gambling market by legitimizing online gambling, which was effectively prohibited under previous laws. However, the new legislation also put in place a 12 percent tax on gambling firms’ turnover, a measure which appears to have made the Polish market uneconomic for many providers.
Several other firms offering online gambling and gaming services in Poland closed their doors to customers in Poland before the new law was introduced, including William Hill, Bet365, Betfair, Pinnacle, EnergyBet, and Olympic Entertainment Group.
The legislation has been the subject of heavy criticism from the gambling industry, with the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) having described the new tax regime as “not workable.”
The RGA has called on the Government to base the tax on gross profits, rather than turnover.
