BIG CHANGES IN POLISH GAMBLING (Update)
6 November 2009
The speculation is true - Polish lawmakers
have gambling in their sights
Speculation earlier this week that the ruling political
party in Poland is about to seriously restrict the
national gambling industry (see previous InfoPowa
report) were confirmed this week when Prime Minister
Donald Tusk revealed that drafting of new regulations
was already far advanced.
Speaking to the Warsaw
Business Journal, Tusk admitted that the recent scandal
involving gambling legislation was behind the decision.
Civic Platform suffered a major blow when some
of its most prominent members were accused of supporting
legislation favourable to the gambling industry in
exchange for political favours (see previous InfoPowa
reports).
While the opposition voiced support
for the changes, representatives of the industry derided
the plan, arguing that it would push the gambling
business into the black market.
Tusk wants to
impose new and more severe and enforced measures against
Internet gambling, although it is not yet clear exactly
what his intentions are in this regard.
He also
intends to gradually phase out approximately 50 000 slot
machines by 2015, the Warsaw Business Journal reports.
Slot machines in and around shops and gas stations will
soon disappear, and there will be heavy new restrictions
on gambling machines and businesses. The plans call for
the government to simply stop renewing the six-year
licenses on the machines, meaning a de facto ban on all
such devices by 2015.
Gambling advertising, video
lotteries and low-payout slot machines which are not in
licensed casinos are all to be banned.
Taxation
on machines will be increased, and only people older
than 18 years of age will be allowed to play. Taxes on
gambling establishments such as casinos will also rise.
Tusk said that his government wants to finish
drafting the bill within the next week, and he told the
WBJ that he expects the bill to be passed quickly and
without amendment.
“It is not increasing
revenues from gambling that is the key issue here, but
counteracting its negative effects, such as addictions,
especially among youngsters, and the mixing of the legal
and criminal spheres in this industry,” explained the
Prime Minister.
Online Casino News Courtesy of
Infopowa
More news here.
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