Poland's sweeping bans on gambling took another step to becoming law late last week when they were passed by the lower house of parliament.
The measures were endorsed by Poland's lower house late Thursday evening and now move on to the upper chamber Senate for approval before being presented to President Lech Kaczynski for signature and becoming law. Passage through the Senate would seem a foregone conclusion given Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government holds a comfortable majority there.
Under the new laws almost 50,000 slot machines will disappear from non-casino venues like bars and shopping centers throughout Poland. Casinos will be subject to increased gaming taxes and advertising of gambling related services will be severely restricted.
The bill will also target online gambling, including measures to prevent Polish residents from being able to play with operators licensed outside of Poland.
No doubt the European Gambling and Betting Association, Remote Gambling Association and other affected online gambling stakeholders will be keen to get an opinion from the European Commission on the legality of Poland's new measures, as they related to remote gambling, should they become law.
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