Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has opened an investigation into licensed bookmakers. The authority will examine website and app design, marketing materials and terms of service for dark patterns — interface choices that nudge users toward betting or frequent play in the operator's interest.
The probe also covers bet cancellation policies, account blocking procedures and payout terms. UOKiK president Tomasz Chróstny is leading the review. It is the first consumer-rights audit since the 2017 online gambling reform, when Poland licensed seven bookmakers under the new Gaming Act.
Justyna Grusza-Głębicka, a Polish gambling-law expert at the Foundation for the Institute of Gambling Regulation (FIRH), calls the probe a turning point. Until now oversight focused on Gaming Act compliance through the Finance Ministry and tax authorities. Consumer protection is now moving to the front.
The difficulty is that Poland has no clear sector-specific standards for online platforms. Operators must follow responsible-gambling requirements and general consumer law, but when it comes to product architecture, interfaces and notifications, regulatory boundaries are vague.
Grusza-Głębicka warns that if regulators scrutinise every design element, the market needs predictable benchmarks. Where does lawful engagement end and manipulation begin? High protection standards are necessary, but without clear rules enforcement becomes a substitute for regulation.
There is also competition from the illegal sector. Unlicensed operators do not observe the same standards as licensed ones. Consumer protection works only if players are directed to the regulated segment. For FIRH the two goals do not conflict: strong protection and a healthy legal market should reinforce each other.
