European Union
What Tourists Traveling to Poland Need to Know About Gambling in the Country
It is hardly surprising that Poland is an attractive tourist destination. The country is steeped in history and has hundreds of medieval castles and fascinating buildings to visit. The historical old towns of Warsaw and Krakow have beautiful ancient churches. The country has some somber history, too; many visitors pay tribute to the lost lives at the infamous Auschwitz Birkenau camp. Gdansk is another city not to be missed. It is an ancient seaport and was made famous by being the birthplace of the Solidarity Movement, which was responsible for bringing about the end of the communist regime in the country.
Poland has fourteen UNESCO world heritage sites, including the ancient Bialowieza Forest, which is home to the European Bison. Other areas of magnificent scenery include fabulous beaches on the Hel peninsula and the Carpathian Mountains, which run through the country. Poland is one of the most affordable European countries for tourists traveling from the USA. In addition, it is generally regarded as one of the safest countries in the world. It lands in the top twenty safest countries for travelers. The biggest threats are pickpocketing, petty theft, and overcharging.
Land-based Casinos
If you are someone who likes to have a flutter as part of your vacation, you will have the option of playing at over fifteen land-based casinos in Poland. These can be found in larger cities like Gdynia, Poznan, Lodz, Krakow, and Warsaw.
The biggest of these is the Olympic Sunrise Casino in Warsaw, which is open 24 hours a day. It is spread over 1700 square meters and boasts 100 slot machines and 30 game tables. Visitors might choose to stay in the hotel where it is located – The Hotel Hilton Warsaw. It is a centrally located modern hotel with 314 rooms over 27 floors. There is direct access to the casino from the lobby. Guests can enjoy a wide selection of Polish vodka-based cocktails at the bar or take a dip in the heated swimming pool.
Online Casinos in Poland
If you are planning a slightly more modest holiday, fear not; there are plenty of other options. Playing at online casinos in Poland is somewhat more complicated, however. The only legal online casino in Poland is the state-owned Total Casino. Visitors to the country can visit the website, look around, and play slots in demo mode. However, only Polish citizens can sign up and play for real money. Online casino gambling laws in Poland are very strict and do not allow domestic operators to offer casino games. Instead, visitors can sign up to offshore online casinos that accept players from Poland and play from the comforts of their vacation accommodation.
Online Betting
Online sports betting is more straightforward. Placing bets on sports events online in Poland is legal for citizens and visitors alike. Many licensed online bookies exist, including forBET, Fortuna Entertainment Group, and STS.
The Poles are fond of betting on soccer. The most bets are placed on Polish Football Federation teams. This includes both men’s and women’s national soccer teams and professional soccer leagues.
STS is the biggest of the online betting companies and currently accounts for 40% of all online wagering. They have been very proactive in creating mobile-friendly sites and invested a lot in their technology. You can download STS mobile betting apps for Android or iOS. Alternatively, their website has been optimized for mobile devices.
As well as traditional sports, there are opportunities to bet on politics, entertainment, and eSports.
Betting Shops
If you want a slice of a more traditional betting experience, Poland also has plenty of betting shops. For example, Fortuna and STS both have betting shops throughout most towns and cities.
Lotto
If you enjoy playing lotto games online, you can do so at Totolotek, Poland’s largest casino-style igaming site. It just does not have any traditional casino games. Totolotek is run by the state-owned gambling company Totalizator Sportowy and has been popular with Polish citizens for almost seventy years.