Polish deputy Prime Minister proposes legalizing online poker, home games

Poland may legalize online poker if the country’s deputy prime minister has his way.

On Sunday, Jarosław Gowin (pictured), Poland’s deputy PM and Minister of Science and Higher Education, held a press conference to offer details on how his Poland Together party would like to amend the country’s 2009 Gambling Act.

The ruling Law and Justice party has yet to deliver its overdue draft of a new gambling bill and Gowin stressed that his proposals were his own, not the government’s. However, Gowin expressed hope that his plans would gain broad support in the Polish parliament.

Gowin is proposing that the current 12% tax on sports betting turnover be replaced by a 20% tax on betting revenue, and 10% of the government’s tax take should be shared with the Polish Olympic Committee and problem gambling initiatives.