Poland Unveils Plan to Hike Player Winnings Tax, Igniting Industry Concerns

Key Moments:

  • Poland’s Ministry of Finance has announced plans to increase the tax on gambling winnings from 10% to 15% starting January 2026
  • The proposed amendments extend taxation to winnings earned abroad and may revise current exemptions
  • Operators and industry experts argue that higher taxes could drive consumers to unlicensed gambling sites

Government Targets Greater Revenue With Tax Increase

The Polish government has revealed plans to raise taxes on player winnings from 10% to 15%. The change will be made under proposed amendments to the Personal Income Tax Act. This new policy is set to take effect from January 2026 and would apply to games of chance, betting, lotteries, and marketing prizes. The revised legislation would also encompass gambling winnings earned abroad. It could also affect gains from other EU and EEA countries.

Government officials argue that this adjustment is necessary to increase state revenue. They claim the 10% tax rate, unchanged since 2001, no longer reflects current wagering activity.

Policy Rationale and Industry Pushback

The Ministry of Finance describes the measure as a “behavioural taxation” strategy. It is designed to raise public funds and curb excessive gambling. However, industry representatives maintain that increasing the tax rate could produce the opposite effect. It may make legal gambling less attractive and push more players toward unregulated markets.

According to analysts and operators, a heavier tax burden may undermine efforts to attract consumers to licensed platforms. Past reforms have already driven traffic to offshore gambling sites.

Poland’s Existing Taxation Structure

Under the current Gambling Act of 19 November 2009, operators must pay a primary tax based on the type of game. Betting activity is taxed at 12% of total stakes. Slot and cylindrical games incur a 50% tax on net revenue. Players also have 10% of their gambling winnings withheld by licensed operators at the time of payout. The upcoming change would raise this deduction to 15%.

Winning AmountCurrent Tax (10%)Proposed Tax (15%)
PLN 10,000 (€2,100)PLN 1,000PLN 1,500

Certain winnings are currently exempt from taxation, including amounts below €520 and prizes from games organized by authorized EU or EEA entities. However, these exemptions may be reevaluated under the new draft rules.

Market Impact and Outlook

Many industry figures fear that raising the tax rate on player winnings could reduce the share of the regulated market, as more players might seek alternatives on unlicensed or offshore platforms. They warn that the measure could ultimately result in decreased overall revenue for the state if migration to untaxed gambling channels increases.

The reform has initiated a policy debate on how to balance state revenue, effective regulation, and consumer behavior. While supporters say the policy will modernize and align gambling tax with public finance goals, outstanding questions remain regarding exemption thresholds, minimum taxable amounts, and uniformity across different game types.

As lawmakers prepare the final version of the draft, operators are expected to lobby for transitional provisions or exemptions to mitigate the impact on players. The legislative debate is poised to influence the future trajectory of Poland’s gambling regulations and its market dynamics.

  • Author

Daniel Williams

Daniel Williams has started his writing career as a freelance author at a local paper media. After working there for a couple of years and writing on various topics, he found his interest for the gambling industry.
Daniel Williams
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