Fighting the grey zone in online games. The state has an increasing monopoly

• Totalizator Sportowy has been operating for several years as a state monopoly in two market segments: online casino and slot machine arcades.
• Totalizator Sportowy conducts activities in the field of responsible gaming, both educational and technical.
• - Today we are talking about about 40 percent of the share of the grey zone in online casinos - said Mariusz Rzeczkowski from Totalizator Sportowy during the 17th European Economic Congress .

In 2017, the online casino market was 100% dominated by illegal operators. Today, as Mariusz Rzeczkowski from Totalizator Sportowy emphasizes, about 60% of this space has been transferred to the legal zone, under the wings of Total Casino - the only legal online casino in Poland. - This is a huge change, but also a challenge - says WNP Rzeczkowski.

The smaller the grey zone, the greater the revenue not only to the budget

Totalizator Sportowy has been operating for several years as a state monopolist in two market segments: online casino and slot machine arcades. Instead of starting operations in an empty field, it had to reclaim territory occupied entirely by the grey zone.

A specific situation arose when the state monopolist had to recover from the illegal market, which at that time amounted to 100 percent - Rzeczkowski recalls.

- Today we are talking about about 40 percent of the share of the grey zone in online casinos. On the one hand, this is great progress, but on the other hand, it is a reason for some dissatisfaction - the representative of Totalizator Sportowy does not hide.

Why the dissatisfaction? Because - according to Rzeczkowski - every percent of a player acquired from the illegal market is not only money for the state budget . It is also protection against addiction, fraud and impunity of operators operating outside the law.

- These are players who did not fall into addiction, who were not cheated, whose money supports Polish sport, culture and civil society - he adds.

Why Monopoly? For Player Protection

Although the word monopoly may have negative connotations, in this case - as the Totalizator representative emphasizes - it plays a protective role. Casino games carry a greater risk of addiction, which is why access to them should be strictly controlled .

- The state monopoly ensures, on the one hand, access to casino games, but on the other hand, control over them. These are games with a high potential for addiction, which is why they rightly cannot be advertised - he says and adds:

Thanks to monopoly, the player has a legal and safe alternative, instead of taking risks in an unregulated environment.

Responsible gaming and European standards

Totalizator Sportowy has been conducting activities in the field of responsible gaming for years - both educational and technical. Players have the option to limit the time and amounts they can spend. Systems warn against excessive involvement, and communication clearly separates entertainment from the promise of profit.

- The key is to build awareness that gambling for money is not a way to get rich . It is a form of entertainment that requires a specific budget, like going to the cinema - Rzeczkowski emphasizes and emphasizes that Totalizator Sportowy is a certified operator in the field of responsible gaming, and its solutions meet the highest European standards. The company is constantly developing this area, raising the bar of internal procedures.