Key Moments:
- The draft amendment to the Polish Criminal Code proposes 3-month to 5-year prison terms for promoting illegal gambling or streaming prohibited acts online.
- The Civic Coalition announced the proposal in the Sejm, led by Monika Rosa, deputy chairwoman and head of the Sejm Committee for Children and Youth.
- The government plans to consult experts and organizations to refine regulations on online content violations.
New Legislation Targets Online Gambling Promotion
Polish lawmakers introduced a Criminal Code amendment to increase penalties for influencers who encourage illegal gambling or broadcast prohibited acts online. The Civic Coalition drafted the proposal, and the Sejm is currently reviewing it.
Details of the Proposal
Bankier.pl reported that the Chamber of Deputies presented the draft on Thursday, Jan. 29. Monika Rosa, deputy chairwoman of the Civic Coalition and head of the Sejm Committee for Children and Youth, leads the initiative.
Rosa explained to PAP: “What is punished in the real world cannot go unpunished in the digital world.” She added, “Currently, blocking and reporting such content is difficult. We need a clear path to punish people who produce these streams.”
The amendment adds a new article to the Criminal Code. It targets public sharing of images or sound online showing, or appearing to show, prohibited acts—even if staged as authentic. Violators could face up to five years in prison.
Consultation and Next Steps
Rosa noted that many influencers continue earning money by promoting gambling, despite strict rules in Poland.
“These people illegally show fake lottery wins or online casino earnings. Poland has a state monopoly on gambling. They deceive young people, encouraging risky behavior that can lead to addiction,” she said.
To make the law effective, Rosa said the government will consult experts and organizations. “We will discuss how to clarify the rules and how to penalize online streaming of these acts as widely as possible,” she added.
- Author
Daniel Williams
