Casino News

Poland to legalise online gaming

2007-04-10 17:13:48

Polish gamblers are to be free to place their bets on any EU-based website, following a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

It has, until now, been illegal for Poles to take part in gambling games offered by foreign companies.

The ECJ, however, has recently ruled in favour of British companies who had suffered similar ostracism from the Italian market, bringing Poland's existing laws into question.

The ECJ ruled that "national regulations that prohibit the acceptance of bets unless one has a license issued by the relevant member state restrict the freedom of services" and that the market has to be opened up.

Poland Business Network (PBN) reported that the "Polish finance ministry is working to amend the gambling law to regulate and tax online gambling companies" rather than simply ban them.

A very small tax of three per cent will probably now be levied on Poland-based gamers, according to PBN.

The European Betting Association had been pushing for "an end to the witch-hunts against private EU licensed operators" and it, along with Polish gamers, will be celebrating ECJ's new ruling.


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