Online casinos are storming the Polish internet, even though promoting them is banned in the country. More and more Poles are searching for offers, and some influencers are bending the law by advertising casinos outside Poland.
Phenomenon: Avalanche-Like Growth in Interest in Online Casinos
In recent months, searches for terms such as „online casinos”, „NV Casino”, „Ice Casino” and „Vulkan Vegas” have been breaking records in Google Trends. This trend is causing concern not only among legal experts but also among state institutions. Without oversight from Polish authorities, the casinos offer thousands of games, promise easy wins and attract a new wave of players looking for quick thrills.
Negative Consequences of Growing Popularity
- Increased risk of gambling addiction, especially among young users
- No real oversight over data protection and the fairness of games
- Loss of funds by players using illegal services
- Promotion of irresponsible behaviour by online influencers
Polish Law – Online Casinos and the Ban on Advertising Them
Under the Polish gambling act, operating and promoting online casinos without a state licence from the National Lottery Operator (Totalizator Sportowy) is illegal. The only exception is services holding an official permit from the Ministry of Finance. Most well-known online casinos do not meet these requirements – their domains end up on the government’s „blacklist”, which administrators and banks must block within 48 hours.
Register of Banned Domains and Practical Restrictions
- More than 50,000 addresses have been entered in the register of sites banned by the Ministry of Finance
- Users have difficulty accessing foreign casinos, although some may operate via so-called mirror sites
- Advertising and promoting online casinos (even legal ones) is banned in almost every form outside the official website
Influencers Circumventing Polish Law
Polish influencers are increasingly promoting online casinos, filming content abroad or on platforms that are not subject to Polish law. They offer promo codes, bonuses and „tutorials”, directly encouraging registration with services blocked in Poland. Such behaviour is not only a risky circumvention of domestic regulations, but also contributes to the growth of addiction problems and financial losses among viewers.
One example is the once-popular patostreamer Rafonix
Another influencer engaging in such promotion is freak fighter Amadeusz Ferari.
He regularly streams on his social media channels, encouraging the use of online casinos. He broadcasts these streams from abroad, outside the European Union.
Real Threats and the Need for Education
The avalanche-like growth in the popularity of online casinos in Poland is a worrying trend that calls for discussion about legality, safety and the responsibility of the media. Influencers advertising gambling while bypassing bans pose a serious threat, especially to young audiences. Polish law strictly regulates the activity of online casinos, and experts are calling for greater education and awareness of the negative effects of this form of entertainment.
