Poland Wants to Treat Influencers Promoting Illegal Gambling as Criminals

Poland is responding to an international phenomenon with a decisive move. The rise of the online casino influencer has posed serious challenges to national governments and gambling regulators.

Poland Latest to Take Close Scrutiny at Casino Influencers 

These influencers often leverage their Internet fame to push illegal gambling messages, with Poland becoming the latest country to take note and act on it. A new proposal, first reported by Bankier.pl, would seek to criminalize this behavior.

The ramifications for individuals found guilty of having promoted illegal gambling websites could be serious, and a subsequent sentencing could lead to anything between three months and five years’ imprisonment, along with financial penalties. 

Presently in the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish National Assembly, the proposal is yet to be discussed and ratified into a law, and only if. However, Poland’s decision to act is timely, as social media influencers are increasingly promoting illegal gambling.

In Australia, a social media influencer with more than 820,000 followers was investigated by the Guardian. The publication discovered that the popular online personality had promoted a crypto casino to Australian followers.

Influencers Targeted All Over the Globe 

ACMA, the local media watchdog, has requested that the casino limit access from Australia, and the operator complied. Casino influencers have been around for a very long time.

Prominent figures such as xQc and Trainwreck have been pioneers in the space, but international companies have increasingly begun targeting other markets as well, looking for partnerships with domestic influencers. 

A couple in Brazil was also recently attempting to use their social media influence to promote illegal gambling operators, with police taking action against the individuals.