Numbers Going Up in the Polish Market

The Polish Ministry of Finance has published a report that cites sports betting as the main driving factor behind the growth in the local gambling market.

According to available information, the regulated gambling market in Poland generated a turnover of $3.5 billion in the last year, which represents a solid year-on-year growth of 22%. At the same time, the government’s tax increased by 17% to $437.2 million

Turnover on the Rise

Casino took home the biggest share of the profit – $1.3 billion, 13% more than in the previous year, followed by lottery operations which recorded revenue of $1.2 billion, a slight 1.4% increase when compared to 2016.

However, sports betting recorded the biggest annual improvement, since its turnover of around $906,000 represents a staggering year-on-year rise of 105%

Sports betting’s share of the overall gambling market went up from 15.7% in 2016 to 26.4%.

The number of retail betting outlets increased by 29%, which was also cited as an important factor in the overall growth of the country’s regulated online betting market. Tax figures show the full strength of online turnover. In 2016, taxes were at $52.5 million, while $23.5 million originated from online revenue. In 2017, the total betting tax was at $108.8 million, with $74.5 million coming via the internet, representing a huge annual rise of 217%.

More Growth to Come in the Future

Since April 1, 2017, a total 9 new online betting licenses have been awarded, while the country’s 12% tax on gross gaming revenue being the biggest obstacle for many international operators willing to do business in Poland.

Still, the market is growing, with locally licensed operators accounting for 40% of the entire online betting market, increasing from 10% before the introduction of the new tax regime. At this moment, the government hopes to increase the share of domestic operators to 90%.

There’s no doubt the Polish government has ambitious plans regarding the country’s gambling market, especially when it comes to making the most out of the current growth trend. The approach used in online gaming has been a successful one, although the current tax policy could cause long-term problems for operators.