Poland’s government has announced plans to raise the tax on gambling winnings from 10% to 15%, starting January 2026. This move by the Ministry of Finance aims to amend the Personal Income Tax Act, affecting all forms of gambling including games of chance, betting, lotteries, and even marketing prizes. The new tax regulations will also apply to winnings earned abroad, impacting earnings from other EU and EEA markets.
The Polish government frames this tax increase as a necessary fiscal measure to bolster state revenue. Officials argue that the current 10% rate, unchanged since its introduction in 2001, fails to reflect the modern dynamics of gambling activity. They propose the increase as a part of a “behavioural taxation” strategy intended to curb excessive gambling while contributing to the public budget. However, the industry argues that this move is myopic, potentially pushing players toward unregulated gambling sites.
The existing gambling tax structure in Poland already imposes significant burdens on operators and players. As per the Gambling Act of 19 November 2009, operators are subject to a primary gambling tax that varies by game type. Betting, for instance, is taxed at 12% of total stakes, and slot and cylindrical games are taxed at a hefty 50% on net revenue. Players are currently required to pay a 10% tax on their winnings, which is directly collected by licensed operators at the time of payout. This means a player winning PLN 10,000 (€2,100) would currently see PLN 1,000 withheld in tax. Under the new law, this amount would increase to PLN 1,500.
There are some exemptions to the current tax framework—winnings below €520 are not taxed, and prizes from games organized by authorized EU or EEA entities remain exempt irrespective of their size. However, these exemptions may be subject to revision under the new draft legislation.
The gaming industry warns that the proposed tax increase could exacerbate market distortions and fuel growth in the unregulated market. Industry analysts and licensed operators are concerned that higher taxes on player winnings will undermine efforts to channel consumers into legal gambling avenues. A Warsaw-based gaming lawyer remarked that increasing the tax burden on players is likely to enhance the allure of grey-market operators.
Historically, similar tax reforms have resulted in increased patronage of offshore platforms, as heightened levies drove players away from regulated markets. Analysts caution that without adjustments, the proposed tax increase could lead to a contraction in Poland’s regulated market share, ultimately reducing overall state revenue due to a migration toward untaxed gambling.
This situation underscores Poland’s ongoing struggle to balance taxation, regulation, and consumer behavior. Supporters of the tax increase argue that it will modernize Poland’s tax policy and align gambling revenues with broader public finance goals. Nonetheless, they concede that many details remain uncertain, such as exemption thresholds, minimum taxable amounts, and whether the changes will be uniformly applied across all gambling types.
As the government prepares to release the full draft, operators are expected to advocate for exemptions or transitional measures that mitigate the impact on player engagement. The outcome of this debate is likely to influence Poland’s regulatory trajectory as it approaches 2026, with potential spillover effects across Central and Eastern Europe.
Critically, the question remains whether Poland’s pursuit of increased tax revenue will fortify its gambling framework or inadvertently push players further into the unregulated market it seeks to control. While the government views the tax increase as a step toward fiscal modernization, opponents argue that it risks destabilizing the very market it aims to regulate.
Poland’s decision will set a precedent with far-reaching implications not just for its own gambling industry but also for neighboring countries observing these developments. As discussions continue, stakeholders on all sides will be keenly watching for any policy adaptations that might bridge the gap between fiscal objectives and market realities.
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