Poland's PM has an Axe to Grind With Online Casinos
by Edward Rogers, News Staff Writer
November 10, 2009
As has happened in times past when online gambling
has been targeted by government officials with the
intent of imposing a ban, Polish Prime Minister, Donald
Tusk's bid to do the same is being tinged by scandal and
protectionism. With reform legislation currently under
works (to be introduced within the month), PM Tusk has
made it clear that he is no friend of online gambling -
and basically, any form of gambling that takes
place outside of land-based casinos.
Therein lies the sting. It seems that PM Tusk's
cabinet has been in cahoots with land-based gambling
lobbyists. Actually, it's pretty much a given there has
been corruption to this effect. An internal
investigation named "Operation Blackjack", has revealed
that at least four senior Polish officials, including
the Minister of Sport, Miroslaw Drzewiecki, and the
Deputy Prime Minister allowed casino gambling lobbyists
to exert "inappropriate influence", i.e. kickbacks, in
making key political decisions.
Even though the four ousted officials had no choice
but to resign, it looks as if PM Tusk is now going to
make those decisions on their behalf. In a recent
statement, PM Tusk said that he and his colleagues "want
to do everything to convince Poles and also our
opponents about our impartiality".
Although PM Tusk, himself, has not been found guilty
of receiving any kickbacks directly, considering the
lobbying history and the fact that he is now seeking to
ban all forms of gambling outside of brick 'n mortar
casinos, makes it difficult to believe there is no
impartiality going on. PM Tusk's defense is that the new
legislation will also be calling for increased taxes on
said brick 'n mortar casinos - something which analysts
say is simply a ploy to help pay for the 2012 European
Championship, which Poland is tapped to jointly host.
Why such taxes couldn't be acquired from regulating
online casino gambling instead, is a question PM Tusk
doesn't have a good answer to. The general sentiment of
active Polish citizens who gamble online at online
casinos is one of nonchalance. Other governments,
including the U.S., have tried to keep people from
gambling online by imposing bans. Obviously, such bans
have hitherto been ineffective at putting an end to
online gambling, whereas in other other parts of the
world, online gambling has and continues to be
successfully regulated and taxed.
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