Polish bookmakers are set to face a new wave of consumer policy assessments led by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protections, known as UOKiK.
The government-announced reviews will affect seven local market operators: STS, Fortuna, Superbet, Bukmachers, E-toto Bukmachers, LV Bet, and Totalbets.
Authorities have confirmed these are routine checks and not a response to any signals raised about potential breaches of operator obligations.
A central focus of the assessments will be the identification of so-called “dark patterns,” which are practices designed to manipulate consumer behaviour through user interface design, messaging, or player incentives.
Regulators will examine bookmaker activity across all digital touchpoints, including websites, mobile apps, and the terms and conditions presented to customers when entering agreements.
UOKiK will deploy an artificial intelligence system specifically trained to detect relevant issues and flag any shortcomings identified during the review process.
Player protection measures will also come under close scrutiny, with assessors looking at how easily customers can opt out of gambling activity should they wish to do so.
The balance of rights between customers and betting platforms will be another key area, with UOKiK examining rules around deposit cancellations, betting restrictions, account blocks, and disputes over winnings.
Operators found to have failed on any of the listed parameters face a significant financial penalty of up to 10% of their annual turnover.
The reviews reflect a broader European trend of regulators applying greater pressure on gambling operators to demonstrate transparent and fair consumer practices.
Poland has one of the more structured regulated betting markets in Central and Eastern Europe, and enforcement actions from UOKiK carry considerable weight across the industry.
With AI now embedded in the regulatory review process, operators face a more systematic and thorough level of scrutiny than in previous assessment cycles.
