Gdańsk illegal gambling: 10 slot machines seized
Police and tax officers in Gdańsk have seized 10 illegal slot machines and cash from three venues in Śródmieście and Orunia. The Gdańsk illegal gambling crackdown highlights enforcement of Poland’s gambling and tax laws and matters for residents worried about crime and unregulated businesses.
Lead: What’s happening and why it matters — Gdańsk illegal gambling
Authorities in Gdańsk have removed 10 illegal gambling machines and seized cash during inspections of three venues in Śródmieście and Orunia. The Gdańsk illegal gambling operation uncovered by police and customs-tax officers is a reminder that unlicensed gaming dens can operate quietly in central neighbourhoods — and that organisers face prison time and heavy fines.
The Full Story
Gdańsk’s economic crime and anti-corruption police, working with officers from the Pomeranian Customs and Tax Office, inspected three premises over the past week. The raids resulted in 10 gaming machines being secured, with an estimated combined value of roughly 120,000 zł. Officers also confiscated 8,500 zł in cash. In one venue a 3,000 zł fine was issued for failing to issue fiscal receipts.
Investigators concluded the venues were organising gambling without the required legal permissions: the machines were operational, customers were playing and the activity appeared to be regular rather than a one-off occurrence. The seized hardware has been transferred to the Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa (National Revenue Administration), which will carry out further proceedings to establish who organised the illegal games.
Under Polish law, organisers of unauthorised gambling can face up to three years in prison and large financial penalties — reportedly up to 100,000 zł per seized machine — making enforcement a serious deterrent. Local police and customs-tax services are continuing inquiries to identify and charge those responsible.
Background & Context
For expats and residents, this Gdańsk illegal gambling case matters for several reasons. First, illegal gambling venues often operate in familiar central locations — in this case Śródmieście (the city centre) and Orunia, a residential district in the south-east of Gdańsk. These establishments may look like ordinary cafés or small bars but run gaming machines without licences or proper fiscal reporting.
Second, unregulated gambling can be linked to broader issues such as tax evasion and money laundering. That’s why the Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa (KAS) and local police are involved: they enforce both criminal law and tax rules. The presence of such venues can also affect neighbourhood safety and perceptions of the area, particularly for those new to the city.
What should expats know? If you see a venue operating slot machines without visible licences or if staff discourage issuing receipts, you can report suspicions to local police (Policja) or contact the KAS via official channels. Enforcement is active in Tricity and other large Polish cities, and penalties for organisers are strict.
Check other news about Tricity
Authorities named in reporting include the Komenda Miejska Policji w Gdańsku (Gdańsk City Police) and the Pomorski Urząd Celno-Skarbowy (Pomeranian Customs and Tax Office). The next steps will be administrative and criminal proceedings led by the Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa to identify organisers and assess fines.
For residents and visitors, the incident is a useful prompt to be aware of how gambling is regulated in Poland and to report any operators that appear to be working off the books. Local enforcement actions like this one show that Polish authorities continue to target unlicensed gaming as part of wider efforts to protect tax revenue and curb organised illegal activity.
Source: Read original article