Your Ultimate Guide to Applying for Casino Licenses

It’s no secret that the gambling industry is one of the most profitable sectors of the economy world over. With the advent of the internet and smartphones, the market penetration of gambling and betting companies has increased exponentially, so are the opportunities to invest in the industry. However, for you to successfully operate a casino, you will need a legal license from the authorities.

Due to the nature of gambling and the possibility of being misused to perpetrate financial crimes such as money laundering, the gambling industry is highly regulated. Slight deviations from these regulations may be sufficient to warrant the revocation of gambling permits. This article explores what you need to know about casino licences in Poland and best practises to adopt when running a gambling business.

Applying for Casinos Licenses in Poland

Polish gambling laws are some of the most stringent compared to those of other European Union member states. For starters, there are conditions you must meet before your application can be considered. For instance, the applicant should not have an on-going case in court related to money laundering crimes within any member state of the European Union economic block.

They should also not have had their gambling license revoked in the past six years. It is also important to mention that all gambling and betting activities are regulated by the Ministry of Finance. This is where you will take your application and pay any relevant fees. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with all rules and regulations to avoid your licenses being revoked.

Licenses for Brick and Mortar Casinos

Brick and mortar casinos are popular in Poland and are recognized by the law. If you want to open a land-based gambling business, there are different licenses you can apply for. This will depend on the type of business and the games that you will offer. For example, if you intend to offer casino games, you will need to apply for a casino license.

On the other hand, if you are planning to offer cash bingo, a bingo saloon license will do, It is important to note that a casino license is not easy to obtain as no more than one casino is allowed to operate in one small city. Also, the minimum share capital required to run a casino (PLN 4 million) can be deterrent to investors.

Online Casino Licenses

Unfortunately, online casinos are not legally allowed to operate in Poland. This can be attributed to the fact that the law does not define clearly what online gambling entails and consequently online casinos. The only permits issued for private online gambling activities are online betting and lotteries. According to the law, any unlicensed online casinos include gaming sites that operate without a gambling license.

While this license is not offered, it is not uncommon for casino operators to ignore the law and operate online casinos. This has lead to the blacklisting of such websites by the government. Although owners of blacklisted sites can appeal against the decision by the Ministry of Finance to block their sites, it doesn’t always happen. These operators are fined up to PLN 245,000.

Best Practices When Apply for a Polish Casino License

If you are planning to start a casino business in Poland, it is important to note that gambling is highly regulated in the country. Most of the gaming in the country is run by Totalizator Sportowy- a state-owned corporation. Therefore, to be on the safe side, make sure that you meet all law requirements including the population requirement i.e. one casino per 250,000 people.

While this requirement might be hard to beat, there are quick kills like operating a casino in a ship. This eliminates the issue of population requirement although it may limit the number of clients visiting your casino. The other requirements that you must meet include minimum share capital and a financial crime-free record for at least the past 6 years.