Growth in the Blocking of Illegal Gambling Domains in Poland: How Effective Are the Restrictions and What Do They Mean for the Market?
In 2024, Poland continued to expand its efforts against unlicensed gambling operators. One of the key regulatory tools remains the blocking of domains that offer gambling services without obtaining a local licence. Over recent years, this practice has evolved from a supplementary enforcement mechanism into one of the central pillars of the government’s strategy.
The situation has been closely monitored by specialists at Rolling Slots, as the effectiveness of domain blocking directly affects how players are distributed between the licensed and unlicensed segments of the market.
The primary objective of domain blocking is to limit access to illegal gambling services. Polish authorities operate on the assumption that reducing the accessibility of unlicensed platforms will encourage users to migrate towards licensed operators that comply with local regulations.
According to various industry reports, Poland’s register of blocked resources has grown to tens of thousands of entries in recent years. The number of new domains being added to the list continues to increase annually. This is largely because many unlicensed brands launch replacement websites almost immediately after previous domains are blocked.
Regulatory enforcement plays a particularly important role. The modern approach involves not only website blocking but also oversight of advertising, financial transactions and affiliate programmes that help illegal platforms attract customers.
From a gambling regulation perspective, blocking measures are intended to improve market transparency and increase the proportion of players using licensed services. This is why Polish authorities view them as a long-term regulatory tool rather than a temporary solution.
Table: Key Facts About Domain Blocking in Poland
| Indicator | Value |
| Country | Poland |
| Year of Analysis | 2024 |
| Main Tool | Domain blocking |
| Objective | Restrict the illegal market |
| Target | Unlicensed websites |
| Additional Measures | Payment and advertising controls |
| Priority | Growth of the licensed sector |
| Trend | Increasing number of blocked domains |
Why the Number of Blocked Domains Continues to Increase
- constant emergence of new domains;
- high profitability of the illegal market;
- expansion of international platforms;
- simplified website registration processes;
- stronger digital oversight;
- efforts to increase the share of licensed operators.
How Effective Website Blocking Is in Practice
The main question discussed across the industry is how effective website blocking actually is. In theory, restricting access should reduce the number of users visiting illegal platforms. In practice, however, the picture is more complex.
Following the appearance of blocked websites, part of the audience does migrate to licensed operators. This is particularly true for new users who are unwilling to spend time searching for alternative web addresses.
However, player behaviour shows that the most active users often continue looking for ways to access their preferred services. This creates the phenomenon of website migration, where audiences gradually move from one domain to another.
Traffic redirection also plays an important role. Many unlicensed brands prepare backup domains in advance and automatically redirect users once their primary website is blocked.
Experience from across Europe shows that blocking measures can reduce traffic to individual websites by dozens of percentage points during the first weeks after restrictions are introduced. However, the long-term impact depends on whether technical measures are combined with additional enforcement tools.
From the perspective of internet regulation, blocking works most effectively when it forms part of a broader, coordinated strategy.
Table: What Happens After a Domain Is Blocked
| Outcome | Likelihood |
| Migration to a licensed operator | High |
| Search for a new domain | High |
| Use of a mirror site | Very High |
| Complete abandonment of the platform | Medium |
| Reduction in new player acquisition | High |
| Operator disappears completely | Low |
How Illegal Operators Circumvent Blocking Measures
The most common method of circumvention remains domain replacement. Once a website is added to the blocked register, the operator simply registers a new domain and transfers its infrastructure.
For offshore operators, this has long become a standard business practice. Some brands reserve dozens of domain names in advance and activate them as needed.
Mirror websites are equally important. A player may encounter a blocked domain message but gain full access to an identical copy of the website through a new address within hours.
Search visibility also deserves particular attention. Search engines remain one of the most important traffic sources for gambling businesses. As a result, illegal operators invest heavily in SEO campaigns to promote replacement domains.
This means that users often discover the new website through search results even after the previous address has been blocked.
For licensed companies, this creates additional challenges. Competition takes place not only at the product level but also within search visibility. This is why retention initiatives, including offers such as the Rolling Slots bonus, have become an increasingly important tool in competing for customers.
Experience from Germany and the Netherlands shows that effectively combating illegal websites requires oversight not only of domains but also of the channels used to attract traffic.
Main Methods Used to Circumvent Restrictions
- registration of replacement domains;
- mirror websites;
- automatic user redirection;
- SEO promotion of new addresses;
- affiliate programmes;
- international infrastructure;
- alternative advertising channels.
Why Website Blocking Alone Is Not Enough
Most European regulators have already concluded that technical restrictions deliver the best results only when combined with additional measures.
The most important complementary tool is payment blocking. In many cases, restricting payment services has a greater impact on unlicensed operators than blocking their websites.
If a player can access a platform but cannot easily deposit or withdraw funds, the attractiveness of the service declines sharply.
Digital enforcement also plays an important role. This broader strategy combines oversight of advertising, payments, affiliate programmes and digital infrastructure.
Gambling compliance, consumer safety and player protection remain central priorities. The ultimate objective of regulation is not merely to block websites but to create a safer environment for users.
Who Benefits and Who Loses from Increased Domain Blocking
The growth in restrictions affects the entire gambling ecosystem.
The primary beneficiary is the government. If more players migrate towards companies holding an operator licence, market transparency improves and tax revenue increases.
Licensed brands also benefit. Every licensed operator has an interest in reducing the presence of illegal competitors and increasing the share of the regulated sector.
For the regulated market, the concept of channelisation is especially important.
Channelisation refers to the process through which players move from the unlicensed sector into the regulated market.
The higher the level of channelisation, the more effective the regulatory framework is generally considered to be.
For players, the benefits include stronger security, greater transparency of payouts and access to protection provided by regulators.
At the same time, unlicensed operators face increasing difficulties. They are forced to continually invest resources into launching new domains and rebuilding traffic.
Account security has also become a growing focus. Many companies continue strengthening protection measures during the Rolling Slots login process by introducing two-factor authentication and additional verification procedures.
Table: Who Benefits from Increased Blocking Measures
| Participant | Outcome |
| Government | Greater control |
| Licensed operators | More player acquisition |
| Players | Improved security |
| Banks | More transparent transactions |
| Regulators | Better monitoring capabilities |
Table: Who Faces Losses
| Participant | Consequence |
| Unlicensed operators | Traffic losses |
| Mirror website owners | Rising operational costs |
| Grey-market affiliate projects | Lower revenue |
| Regulatory offenders | Increased scrutiny |
What Other European Countries Have Experienced
The Netherlands is often cited as one of the most successful examples in Europe. Following market reforms and stronger enforcement measures, the Dutch regulator significantly increased the proportion of players using licensed platforms.
Germany’s results have been more mixed. Despite extensive restrictions, international brands maintained a significant presence, demonstrating that effectiveness depends not only on the number of blocked websites but also on the attractiveness of the legal market.
The United Kingdom applies a broader approach by combining advertising controls, payment restrictions and licensing requirements. As a result, the illegal segment remains relatively limited compared with many other jurisdictions.
Nordic countries rely on a comprehensive enforcement strategy that includes:
- website blocking;
- payment controls;
- advertising restrictions;
- player protection measures;
- development of the licensed market.
In nearly all successful regulatory models, rising channelisation remains the key performance indicator.
What Results Poland Could See Over the Next Few Years
Between 2028 and 2030, Poland is likely to continue strengthening digital enforcement. The number of blocked domains will probably keep increasing, but the main focus will gradually shift towards broader regulatory strategies.
In an optimistic scenario, channelisation could rise significantly. More players would use licensed platforms, leading to higher tax revenue and a stronger regulated sector.
Under a moderate scenario, the grey market would remain present but gradually lose influence due to the combined effects of blocking measures, payment monitoring and international cooperation.
Even under the most conservative scenario, unlicensed brands are likely to find it increasingly difficult to attract new users, as the cost of circumventing restrictions continues to rise.
The online casino sector will remain the primary battleground between licensed and international operators. Service quality, payout speed and security will become increasingly important competitive factors.
This is why independent resources such as a Rolling Slots review help players evaluate operators using objective criteria, while real customer experiences, including Rolling Slots testimonials, continue to grow in importance as trust signals.
The most likely outcome is a gradual reduction in the influence of the grey market without its complete elimination. European experience shows that removing illegal gambling entirely is virtually impossible, but its market share can be significantly reduced through a balanced combination of domain blocking, financial controls and an attractive licensed market.
