History of Poker Development in Poland

The first law regulating games of chance—including poker—was passed in Poland in 2009. Since then, the legislation has been revised multiple times, leaving poker and casino gaming in a somewhat ambiguous legal position. By contrast, sports betting and lotteries are fully legal and operated by the state monopoly, Totalizator Sportowy.

Despite the industry’s restrictions, several Polish poker players have risen to global prominence. Notably, high‑stakes specialists Viktor Malinowski and Dmitry Urbanovich have amassed multi‑million‑dollar profits. For example, on GGPoker alone, Malinowski has won over $10 million solely from multi‑table tournaments.

Gaming Legislation in Poland

Live poker is only permitted in one of nine licensed casinos, and every win is subject to a 25% tax payable to the state. Online poker, however, remains illegal without a Polish licence. Offshore rooms operating without local approval are blocked by ISPs, and some even refuse registrations from Polish players.

The sole platform to hold a Polish licence is GGPoker; to access other sites you must use a VPN. Poland offers limited options for live cash‑game enthusiasts, and tournament players also face strict prize‑caps on cash payouts. While underground clubs do run cash games, the high legal and financial risks make participation inadvisable.

Best Poker Sites in Poland

Polish players face a rather limited selection of poker rooms. Some offshore platforms—including PokerStars and 888poker—prohibit registrations from Poland. Nevertheless, you can still find alternative sites offering comparable or even more attractive conditions. Below are the top options.

GGPoker

As the world’s largest poker room and the only one licensed to operate in Poland, GGPoker is the obvious choice for Polish grinders—no VPN required. Action runs 24/7 at all stakes, and GGPoker has long surpassed PokerStars in both cash‑game traffic and tournament fields.

GGPoker also leads the industry in promotional prize pools: over $10 million is paid out each month in bonuses and leaderboard rewards. Its loyalty program is structured to deliver the highest rakeback to recreational players. A 100% welcome bonus lets you earn up to $600 on your first deposit.

Good Rakeback Fish Players
Flagship room at GG Network. Good traffic and very weak fields
Network: GG Network
Rakeback: over 50%
Pros
  • Recreational players from Asian countries
  • Very weak fields at all the stakes
  • Push or Fold tables
  • Direct cashier
Cons
  • Poker software is prohibited
  • No heads-up tables

WPT Global

WPT Global, launched in 2022 by the World Poker Tour brand, is a relatively new poker room. It primarily targets the Asian market, resulting in very soft fields, and most games are denominated in Chinese yuan. Its standout feature is the regular satellites to live WPT events—almost always running with an overlay, which boosts your chances of qualifying.

Crypto-friendly
Play poker with WPT Global and join millions of players from around the world. Enjoy high-quality gaming with a wide selection of tournaments and cash games, unbeatable bonuses, and 24/7 customer support.
Network: Independent
Rakeback: up to 45%
Pros
  • Asian players at the tables
  • Good Rakeback Deal
  • Crypto-friendly
Cons
  • Low Traffic

In addition to MTTs, WPT Global offers cash games and Sit & Go tournaments, though they’re less popular. The use of tracking software is strictly forbidden. For deposits, you can use payment methods common in Poland, such as local bank cards.

PokerKing

Polish players can join the American WPN network through PokerKing. This room offers numerous promotions tailored for regulars, including direct rakeback of up to 65%. Weekly rake races let you boost your rakeback even further. Unlike many sites, PokerKing allows third‑party tracking software, making it especially attractive to serious players.

Good Rakeback MTT Traffic US Players
70% rakeback if you sing up now! A lot of recreational players from US and Canada, good PLO and MTT-traffic.
Сеть: WPN
Рейкбек: Up to 70%
Преимущества
  • Many recreational players from US
  • Good rakeback
  • Good PLO and MTT-traffic
Недостатки
  • Second and succeeding cashouts in the month have additional fee of 5%

Living in Poland: Key Considerations

online poker poland

When relocating to Poland, most newcomers—including poker players—tend to settle in cities like Warsaw, Gdańsk, Wrocław, and Kraków. These urban centers are popular with tourists for their stunning architecture and abundance of historic sights. Be prepared for a temperate‑continental climate: summers are relatively brief, while winters can be quite cold.

Cost of living varies between Polish cities. In Warsaw, renting a one‑bedroom apartment costs around $700–$900 per month. Grocery prices in Poland are significantly lower than in many other European countries: a single person spends about 150 PLN (≈ $39) on food each week. Dining at an inexpensive restaurant in Warsaw typically costs around 40 PLN (≈ $10) per meal.

Rules for Staying in Poland

For long‑term stays, foreigners must obtain a visa or a residence permit. The main pathways are:

  • Repatriation under the Polish Card program

  • Family reunification

  • Employment under an official contract

  • Entrepreneurial or investor activities

  • Studies at Polish universities and colleges

Short‑term tourist and Schengen visas are issued according to standard EU regulations. It’s important to check consular requirements in advance and prepare a complete set of documents.

Conclusion

Despite Poland’s fairly strict rules on both live and online poker, it’s still perfectly feasible to play over the Internet. The choice of rooms is limited, but the world’s largest site, GGPoker, operates here legally. You can also access other platforms without issue by using a VPN.

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