Gambling Payments and Banking Rules in Poland
Polish law controls how money moves in and out of online gambling. Legal operators may use only regulated payment providers, and payment providers must stop serving blocked websites. Here is what that means for your cards, bank transfers and other payment methods.
Never borrow money to gamble. Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over and can lead to addiction and financial harm.
How payments work at a legal online gambling website
- Regulated payment providers only. A legal online gambling operator must carry out payments linked to its games only through the types of payment service provider listed in Poland's Payment Services Act (Gambling Act, art. 15e).
- No loans or banking products on gambling websites. Banking services such as credit may not be offered or advertised on a website where gambling takes place (art. 29c).
- Identity checks. Gambling operators must check customers' identity when they open a business relationship, such as an account, and for stakes or winnings of €2,000 or more, in one transaction or several linked ones. They must also carry out checks when they suspect money laundering (Anti-Money Laundering Act, arts 2(1)(20) and 35(1)).
Payment blocking for blocked websites
Payment service providers may not provide payment services on websites listed in the Ministry of Finance's register of illegal gambling websites. When a website is added to the register, providers must stop serving it within 30 days (Gambling Act, art. 15g). A provider that ignores the ban can be fined up to 250,000 zł (art. 89).
This is why payments to some gambling websites fail or are refused. Read more about Poland's register of blocked gambling websites.
Why paying an illegal casino can cause problems with your bank
The Ministry of Finance warns that transactions with illegal gambling operators may be treated as high risk. This can lead to your bank account being blocked and to requests to explain where your money came from. Payment problems are one more reason why offshore casino websites put players at risk.
Payment methods: what to watch for
The Gambling Act does not set separate rules for individual payment methods. The general rules above apply to all of them. Whether a legal operator accepts a method, and on what terms, depends on its own rules and its payment providers.
| Method | What the Gambling Act says | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Debit card | No method-specific rule; general rules apply | Money leaves your account straight away. Check how withdrawals are paid back before you deposit. |
| Credit card | No method-specific rule; general rules apply | Paying by credit card means gambling with borrowed money, which can quickly lead to debt. |
| Bank transfer and BLIK | No method-specific rule; general rules apply | Your bank sees the recipient. Payments to blocked websites should be stopped by the provider. |
| E-wallets and prepaid vouchers | No method-specific rule; general rules apply | They do not replace identity checks. Vouchers may not be usable for withdrawals. |
| Cryptocurrency | No method-specific rule; paying in crypto does not make an unlicensed website legal | Crypto payments are hard to reverse, and a website that takes only crypto gives you little protection. |
Source: Gambling Act arts 15e, 15g and 29c; Ministry of Finance warning about illegal gambling. We do not list which operators accept which methods.
Problems with a payment
- With a legal gambling operator: complain under the operator's rules first. Our guide to gambling complaints and consumer help explains the six-month time limit for claims.
- With your bank or payment firm: complain to the bank or firm first. If that does not solve the problem, the Financial Ombudsman (Rzecznik Finansowy) helps with disputes with financial firms.
| Service | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Ombudsman Rzecznik Finansowy | 22 333 73 26 or 22 333 73 27 | Disputes with banks, payment and other financial firms |
Source: Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) — checked .
- Behavioural addictions helpline 801 889 880 Daily, 17:00–22:00 · Charged at your operator's rate
- Support Centre for adults in mental crisis 800 70 2222 24 hours a day, 7 days a week · Free
In an emergency, call 112. Numbers listed by KCPU and the Ministry of Health, checked . More gambling support in Poland
Sources
- Gambling Act of 19 November 2009 (Ustawa z dnia 19 listopada 2009 r. o grach hazardowych)
- Act on Counteracting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Ustawa o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu)
- Warning about the consequences of taking part in illegal gambling (Ostrzeżenie przed konsekwencjami udziału w nielegalnym hazardzie)
- Help for consumers (Pomoc dla konsumentów)
English explanations are our own translations of Polish law. The official Polish text prevails. How we check our sources.