Casinos in Poland

Introduction

The country of Poland has a long history of casual gambling, just like every other nation on earth. Organized and regulated casinos go back about a century. Here, the business and the pastime have evolved into a well-regulated industry that gives players land-based and online options. The regulatory framework is strong and operators provide local players and visitors with safe and sane options. The casinos are spread throughout the country and appear in all the bigger cities. Visitors can find all the hottest international slot machines and traditional table games just like those found in Las Vegas or Macau.

You won’t find a casino in every mid-size town or many of the smaller ones like you would in other Eastern European countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, or Latvia, but the casinos there are well-known for providing a welcome atmosphere and good vibes. Quite a few of them are located inside international hotels so they see more foreign visitors on average than those in some other countries.

Casinos Poland, a subsidiary of US-based Century Casinos is one of the larger operators in Poland and you’ll find their properties in some of the bigger cities like Warsaw, Krakow, and Katowice. As was the case everywhere else, the World Health Emergency of 2020 crippled operators in Poland but unlike some other countries with less robust infrastructures and stable economies and societies, the industry bounced back in Poland with operators like Casinos Poland leading the way. Of course, just like everywhere else, online gambling https://jswqzs.com/news also saw a large surge during the lockdowns, and like many places, sustainable growth remained after the land-based venues began to reopen.

History of Gambling

Poland’s organized gambling history dates back to the early 20th century when venues like the Sopot Casino opened in 1920 and did so well it greatly expanded operations in just seven years. The casino’s location on the coast added to its ability to attract well-to-do visitors whose gambling losses helped the property become a very special kind of gaming venue relatively quickly.

Those halcyon days didn’t last forever though. After World War II the whole country went through some major changes. Soviet influence took hold, gambling was banned outright, and the existing pre-war casinos were either repurposed into hotels, shops, offices, and other businesses or were simply shuttered.

For example, the aforementioned Sopot Casino was renamed the Grand Hotel and later acquired by Orbis Casino Group. So after coming full circle the former Sopot Casino once again became an important part of the Polish gambling story.

The gambling ban lasted until the late 1990s when Poland began to open up its economy again. Casino Pod Roza opened in 1998 in Krakow. That was one of the most important milestones that signaled a new era for legalized gambling in the country. As the years went by, international operators like Century Casinos entered the market. After temporary closures during the COVID-19 pandemic Century Casinos reopened its then-existing eight Casinos Poland venues on February 12, 2021, signaling a revival of land-based gambling in the country.

Legislation and Jurisdiction

The Gambling Act of 2009 began tightly regulating gambling in Poland for operators and players too. It was an all-inclusive law that covered all kinds of gambling like casinos, sports betting, and lotteries. It controlled the gambling environment. Now, all land-based casinos must get a license from the Ministry of Finance. The licenses are usually good for six years. They are only issued for operations in the bigger cities and a few very specific tourist areas. All operations are strictly regulated.

Consumer protections are high on the regulator’s list of priorities so responsible gambling practices are prescribed and operators have to monitor player activity. Age verification is paramount with a minimum age of 18 years.

Operators are also required to pay taxes on their revenues. Those proceeds support several social programs. While some European Union member states fought tooth and nail to create carve-outs and run things the way they saw fit, Poland followed EU directives and has adjusted many of its laws to align with broader EU standards.

Popular Spots and Games

Casinos Poland appears to be the number one land-based casino operator in the country and runs most of the best-known casinos in Poland. Perhaps one of the most famous casinos was located in the Warsaw Marriott. Casinos Poland Marriott seems to have closed its doors when Marriott Bonvoy offloaded the property that was renamed the Warsaw Presidential Hotel in August 2024. It was located in one of the tallest buildings in the city and offered a full complement of games like blackjack, poker, and roulette along with slots..

Another important Casinos Poland venue is the Warsaw Hilton - another highly sought-after gambling destination for casual gamblers and serious players alike. The Warsaw LIM Center also houses a Casinos Poland venue, adding to the capital’s range of gambling options.

Outside of Warsaw, Katowice is home to a Casinos Poland operation at the Hola Hotel with a good range of games in an upscale environment. Katowice re-opened in March 2024 after a temporary closure due to licensing delays. In the south of the country, Bielsko-Biała has a Casinos Poland location at the President Hotel that offers a more intimate gaming experience. The Company reopened its operation in Bielsko-Biala in February 2024 after a temporary closure for licensing delays too.

In Krakow, Casinos Poland operates at the Dwor Kosciuszko Hotel. Expect to find a refined atmosphere and special treatment if you are a VIP. The city of Lodz hosts Casinos Poland’s venue at the Manufaktura complex. Perhaps the best place in the country to mix gambling, entertainment, shopping, and more in a single trip. The renovated Manufaktura complex was originally a factory but has been transformed into a vital center for culture and the arts in the middle of the country. Tourists should plan to visit the Poznanski Palace next door to the complex to experience the City Museum and learn about art and artifacts that explain the history of Lodz.

Conclusion

Poland’s land-based casino industry operates under a rigid but competent regulatory regime. With the major casinos being located in bigger cities, tourist zones, and hotels, they attract not only locals but plenty of international visitors. Casinos Poland is the major operator and they offer plenty of games in nice and well-maintained venues spread across the entire country.

The casinos in Krakow or Katowice might not be as busy with footfall and Euro churn as the sites in Warsaw, but they all have something special to offer visitors whether it is simply an upscale VIP experience, a historical setting, or a jumping-off point to visit the countryside and get to know the salt of the earth.