Poland draft not yet approved, says EC
European Commission says reports suggesting it has given Poland's draft bill the green light are premature
The European Commission (EC) said it was still analysing planned amendments to Poland’s Gambling Act and has yet to approve the new draft law, despite a number of reports to the contrary.
Speaking to eGaming Review this morning, a spokesperson for the EC said it had recently notified Poland of a range of concerns it had regarding the draft Act’s compatibility with EU law and was currently studying Poland’s responses.
The amendments seek to remove the condition which requires foreign operators to set up a full company in Poland before being able to obtain an operating licence.
Polish authorities hope the removal of this requirement will go some way to stimulate a market overshadowed by a significant unlicensed presence, which is estimated to control around 90% of the total market.
However some believe the amendments do not go far enough and that the regulated market, which currently consists of just four licensed players – Fortuna Entertainment, Millenium, STS and Totolotek – is unlikely to grow as a consequence.
According to Michal Kopec, Eastern European manager at affiliate operator bettingexpert, the amendment is no more than “cosmetic” with the country’s tax regime proving to be the main disincentive to foreign companies.
“The only changes it brings is the fact that foreign companies will need to open a branch and not a full company in Poland,” Kopec said.
“Given the 12% turnover tax and advertising limitations this is a cosmetic change and is definitely not going to attract companies to take the local licences,” he added.
Last month, STS chief executive Mateusz Juroszek told eGR that more needed to be done in order to make Polish licences more attractive.
“It can be done by rationalising tax rates and simultaneously by blocking websites of unlicensed operators – [this is] how it was done with good results in many European countries,” Juroszek said.