Europe continue to open up for online poker and online gambling | IXGAMES
Poland to Legalize Online Poker and Online Gambling
Poland’s decision follows the favorable ruling for online poker and online gambling in the Placanica case by the European Court of Justice.
Under current Polish law, it is illegal to take part in gambling games offered from companies located in other countries. But the number of online gambling sites doing business in Poland has been on a rapid rise, for several reasons. First, it is practically impossible to enforce the ban on their operation. Second, costs are much higher to operate land-based casinos and arcades, and there are statutory restrictions on advertising them in Polish media. Third, Poland currently does not tax Casino Games. Fourth, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) passed last October caused online gaming sites to look for customers outside of the huge US market. The Polish finance ministry is working to amend the gambling law to regulate and tax online gambling companies, similar to the way the UK’s Gambling Act of 2005 will do when it comes into force this September, and how Italy began to January 2007. 
The Italian government now collects a 3% tax from gaming companies on gaming revenues that Italian customers generate. The value of the Polish market for online gambling (including online poker), lotteries and bookmakers is estimated to run into hundreds of millions or even billions of zlotys.