Professional Poker Player seeking Polish Laws on Gambling help.

My name is Kamil and I live in Canada. I Moved to Canada at age 4, I am now 22 and in my last year of university. Anyways, as much as I love school, once I earn my degree I'm going to try and play poker for a living. For the past 3 years (36 months) I've averaged approx 2500 USD a month.

2500USD x 2.75 (zloty) = 6875 zlotchs.

If you can see where I'm going with this, I want to move and play in Poland. I speak the language and make frequent trips back. I beleive I can bring in 6875 zlotychs a month GROSS playing poker online.

Now my questions are :

Does Poland allow for Online gambling yet?

If so, would the standard 19% Tax apply for my nature of work.

Any info is appreciated.

The opposite, in fact. Online gambling has been outlawed, though there is no technical reason why you can't play. Tax is high as well - I can't remember the figure, but if they catch you and force you to pay, the penalties are huge.

Why not move to the UK? No tax on gambling winnings!

check out the regional tourneys on pokerstars.net ....thousands of polish players .

Kamil1988 , use Moneybookers they are registered in Uk , the main benefit is that you can also request a MasterCard attached to your MB account.

Merged: How to obtain a gambling licence in Poland?

A friend of mine wants to get a gambling license to host Poker games in his bar. Does anyone know how he can go about this?

I think the polish online market will be open in June. It was announced for January but then got delayed. I assume they will follow the Italian/French model (AAMS/ARJEL).

We have to wait and see :-)

Hi. As far as I know it is legal now in Poland.

Is there any update on the situation with online poker here?
All the info I am finding is from last year or before and there are still a lot of sites that do not allowing players from Poland to register.

Looks like it is still illegal.
And live poker is pretty much dead here too.
Doesn't look like the state is doing anything about relaxing or changing the laws.

Merged:

Gambling Tax

How much can be won tax free from a gambling shop in Poland - and does proof of winnings need to be shown to the tax authorities when under this limit?

Is it illegal for a Polish tax resident to use online gambling sites anywhere, or just while in Poland?

Thanks.

What is a gambling shop? A supermarket or corner shop where you can buy lottery tickets?

He means a betting shop.


According to this article there is a 10% tax on winnings:-

frixo.com/sbook/regions/poland.asp

These sites might be of help:-

e-playonline.com/poland-tax-on-winnings-when-do-you-have-to-pay/
practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/gaming-law-2019/poland

Yes, first thing that struck me was how strange that an Irish person would call a betting shop a 'gambling shop'! In fact he'd call it a bookies, though I can understand how he might not use that term outside Ireland, but even in Poland they have the term bookmaker for betting shops, 'buchmacherskie.'

I see. I keep away from them, betting and gambling have never been my hobby.


Only in Poland.

Thanks guys!
I see winnings from casinos are exempt from tax - do casinos pay out cheques quite a lot to keep track of what winnings are tax free?

I imagine it would open a money laundering loop if everybody can deposit cash to the bank and claim it was casino winnings.

Pawian, do you have a link to something official stating it is only illegal for a Polish resident to use gambling sites inside Poland, but is fine when outside?

zagranie.com/kasyno-online/

It is obvious that when in another country, you are subject to its laws which may differ than Poland`s. So, if a foreign country allows online gambling, you can use it when on its territory and it doesn`t matter you come from Poland. Simple.

To avoid any misunderstandings, using such foreign sites on Polish territory is illegal.