Poland Proposes New Bill Criminalising Illegal Gambling Streams To Protect Young Players

Poland has moved closer to criminalising the promotion and streaming of illegal gambling content after lawmakers approved new legislation targeting harmful online behaviour.

The country’s lower house of parliament, the Sejm, passed the so-called “End of Patostreaming Bill” by 419 votes to 19, with one abstention. The proposal now heads to the Senate before final approval from President Karol Nawrocki.

Although the legislation was introduced primarily to address violent and abusive online content, it also introduces changes for gambling-related content creators. For the first time, influencers, streamers and digital personalities profiting from promotion of illegal operators could face criminal prosecution under Poland’s Penal Code.

The bill was first proposed in January by members of the governing Civic Coalition (KO), who argued that existing laws no longer provided adequate protection for young people navigating digital platforms.

Illegal Gambling Promotion Becomes Criminal Liability

The legislation targets “patostreaming”, a term commonly used in Poland to describe online broadcasts featuring violence, humiliation, abuse, self-harm or other harmful behaviour monetised through advertising, subscriptions and donations.

Under the new rules, individuals who publicly distribute content depicting criminal acts or imitations of criminal acts for financial gain may face prosecution. The scope also extends to content involving degrading treatment, humiliation and animal cruelty.

For gambling stakeholders, the biggest change is the inclusion of content promoting unlicensed gambling operators or facilitating illegal wagering activity. Influencers who direct audiences to illegal gambling sites, encourage participation in unauthorised betting activities or expose minors to gambling content can now be held responsible under criminal law.

Authorities Gain Stronger Powers To Pursue Violations

Enforcement responsibility will fall primarily on Polish police and prosecutors. Gambling-related investigations will also involve the National Revenue Administration (KAS), which oversees action against illegal operators and unauthorised marketing.

The penalties are severe. Individuals found guilty of publishing, livestreaming or profiting from content involving serious criminal acts could face prison sentences of up to five years. The same sanctions may apply where criminal acts are staged or falsely portrayed for commercial purposes.

Earlier versions of the legislation proposed penalties ranging from financial sanctions to prison terms of between three months and five years. The final framework elevates illegal gambling promotion from a regulatory breach to a potential criminal offence.

Digital Consumer Protection Remains Government Priority

The reforms are part of a digital safety agenda pursued by the Polish government. In 2025, Poland became the first European Union member state to introduce dedicated consumer protections covering loot boxes and in-game purchases. 

Authorities are also developing a secure age-verification framework linked to the EU Digital Identity Wallet. The system would allow users to verify their age online without sharing excessive personal information.

While consumer protection measures expand, there are no signs of gambling liberalisation. Poland’s online casino market is reserved exclusively for state-owned operator Totalizator Sportowy despite present concerns around black-market activity and channelisation levels.

Polish lawmakers have approved new legislation to criminalise illegal gambling content promotion and streaming. This bill aims to protect young players and imposes severe penalties on defaulters including up to five years in prison. In essence, patostreaming has now become a criminal offence. 

Further updates on regulatory developments will be available in the Regulation Section.