Offshore Casino Websites and Foreign Licences in Poland

Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over. It can lead to addiction and financial harm. Taking part in illegal online gambling in Poland can lead to a fine equal to your winnings.

Why a foreign licence is not enough in Poland

Polish law reserves online casino games to the state monopoly (Gambling Act, art. 5(1b)). Poland does not recognise gambling licences issued by other countries, so a licence from Malta, Curaçao, Gibraltar or anywhere else does not allow a company to offer casino games to people in Poland. This applies equally to licences from other European Union countries.

A company can hold a genuine licence in its home country and still be operating illegally in Poland. When a website accepts players from Poland without Polish permission, it breaks Polish law, and so do the players who use it (art. 29a(2)).

Signs that do not prove a casino website is legal

The Ministry of Finance warns that you may be dealing with illegal gambling even if:

• the offer is in Polish;
• the website appears in search engines or in rankings of casinos or bookmakers;
• the operator has a licence issued in another country.

Three more claims prove nothing on their own: a .pl website address, a “licensed” badge or seal on the page, and payment by cryptocurrency. The only reliable check for casino games is the Ministry of Finance's list, explained in our guide to whether online casinos are legal in Poland.

Risks the Ministry of Finance warns about

The Ministry's warning about illegal gambling lists these dangers for players:

• Higher risk of addiction. Illegal websites often lack age checks, spending and activity controls, and the option to exclude yourself.
• Fraud and loss of money. There is no guarantee that winnings will be paid. Accounts may be blocked, withdrawals refused or game results manipulated.
• Misuse of personal data and identity theft. Illegal operators may collect, sell or pass on your data.
• Cyber threats. Phishing, stolen login details, malware and unauthorised access to your bank account.
• Money-laundering concerns. Payments to illegal operators may be treated as high-risk transactions, which can lead to your bank account being blocked and to questions about where your money came from.
• No legal or consumer protection. There is no guaranteed way to enforce your rights or make a complaint.
• Penalties. Both the operator and the player can face administrative and fiscal penal liability.

What can happen to players

Taking part in online gambling offered without a Polish permit is prohibited (Gambling Act, art. 29a(2)). A player can be fined an amount equal to their winnings, with no deduction for the money they staked (art. 89). Separately, taking part in a foreign gambling game while in Poland is a fiscal offence punishable by a fine of up to 120 daily units (Fiscal Penal Code, art. 107 §2).

Our guide to penalties for playing at illegal online casinos explains how these fines work. If you are in Poland for a short time or moved here recently, read about the rules for visitors and expats, because the same law applies to you.

Blocking and payment bans

The Ministry of Finance keeps a public register of website addresses used to offer gambling illegally. On 28 September 2026 it contained 57,901 entries. Internet providers must block a listed website within 48 hours, and payment providers must stop providing payment services on it within 30 days (arts 15f and 15g).

Read more about Poland's register of blocked gambling websites and the gambling payment rules.

Bonus offers from offshore casino websites

Polish law bans advertising and promotion of casino games, including slot, card, roulette-type and dice games (Gambling Act, art. 29(1)). The narrow exceptions do not cover unlicensed websites. People who run such advertising, place it or profit from it can face a fiscal penalty (Fiscal Penal Code, art. 110a).

So when you see “welcome bonuses”, “free spins” or influencer promotions for casino websites aimed at people in Poland, treat them as a warning sign rather than a reason to trust the website. A generous offer does not change whether the website is legal, and bonus conditions on illegal websites give you no protection if the operator refuses to pay.

If you already have an offshore casino account

If you have been using an offshore casino website, these steps can limit the harm:

• Stop depositing money, and do not try to win back what you have lost.
• Keep records of your deposits, withdrawals and messages with the operator.
• Talk to someone. The helplines below are confidential.
• If you are worried about your legal position, ask an independent lawyer about your own situation.
• If payments have caused problems with your bank, read our guide to gambling payments and banking rules.