Lawmakers in Poland are taking aggressive steps to curb the promotion of illegal gambling online, introducing a strict draft amendment to the Criminal Code. Submitted by the Civic Coalition, the proposal targets “pathostreamers” and influencers who market unauthorized casinos or stream prohibited acts.
If passed, the legislation could see offenders facing prison sentences ranging from three months to five years.
New Criminal Code: Prison Sentences for “Pathostreamers”
The draft bill is being spearheaded by Monika Rosa, deputy chairwoman of the Civic Coalition and head of the Sejm Committee for Children and Youth. The amendment introduces a specific article to the Criminal Code that covers the public dissemination of images or sounds depicting the commission of a prohibited act, or even simulated acts presented as authentic.
Rosa argues that current methods of content moderation are insufficient to protect vulnerable audiences. “What is punished in the real world cannot go unpunished in the digital world,” Rosa told PAP, explaining the urgency of the bill. She highlighted the technical challenges of the current system, noting, “Currently, there are difficulties with blocking such content, reporting it to digital platforms, so we must have a clear path of punishing people who produce such pathostreams.”
Protecting Youth from Unregulated Casino Marketing
The primary concern is the influence these creators have on young viewers. Rosa emphasized that many influencers are profiting from illegal activities while deceiving their audience about the reality of gambling.
“It is illegal in Poland. These people pretend that they have won some super lotteries, that you can win money in online casinos, which should not function in Poland… In this way, they deceive young people, encouraging them to engage in risky behavior, which later turns into an addiction,” she stated.
The government plans to consult with legal experts and social organizations to refine the regulations before finalization. Rosa confirmed that the goal is to penalize “pathostreaming” as widely as possible, creating a robust legal deterrent against the normalization of illegal gambling in the digital space.
