Payment Provider BLIK Deploys Blocks on Transactions to Illegal Gambling Domains in Poland
TL;DR — BLIK now blocks payments to domains on Poland’s Ministry of Finance illegal gambling register, effective September 1. The provider handled €102 billion in transactions in 2025. This aligns with the grey market shrinking to 29.1% in 2024 from 58.6% in 2017, plus UOKiK audits of licensed operators using AI for dark pattern detection.
SCCG Take — Payment infrastructure is tightening enforcement of the state monopoly. Licensed operators gain from reduced funding access for unlicensed sites, though sustained register accuracy will determine long-term impact.
BLIK has activated automatic blocks on payments tied to illegal gambling operators. The Polish mobile payment system now declines transactions linked to domains on the Ministry of Finance’s register of illegal gambling sites. The blocks took effect on September 1.
As reported by Focus Gaming News, BLIK processed 2.9 billion transactions worth PLN 441.5 billion (€102 billion) in 2025. The company recently joined a pan-European payments initiative to enable cross-border transfers. It noted that platforms legal in other jurisdictions can remain prohibited in Poland, creating pathways for users to fund unauthorized operators.
Monika Król, Vice President of BLIK, told the Polish state news agency PAP: “We decided to introduce an additional mechanism to block transactions conducted by entities that are illegal under Polish law.” The system checks the linked domain against the register, which holds more than 55,000 domains and adds around 700 new entries each month.
Poland’s Regulated Gambling Structure
Most online gambling has operated under a state monopoly since 2017. Sports betting and promotional lotteries remain exempt from that framework. Unlicensed operators accounted for an estimated 29.1 percent of the market in 2024, down from 58.6 percent in 2017.
Overlapping Compliance Reviews
BLIK’s blocks arrive during a fresh round of social responsibility checks by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK). The reviews target licensed sports betting operators including Fortuna, STS, Superbet, Bukmachers, E-toto Bukmachers and LV Bet. Assessments cover websites, mobile applications, customer terms and conditions. UOKiK will apply artificial intelligence to detect dark patterns that manipulate consumer behavior.
These steps reflect sustained pressure on the remaining grey market. Further contraction will depend on consistent register maintenance and user adaptation to the payment restrictions.
Reporting: Focus Gaming News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Payment infrastructure now enforces Poland's licensing wall — licensed operators gain share if the registry stays current and enforcement holds.
We've worked Poland's regulated market since day one. Payment blocking is the most effective choke point for unlicensed supply — better than DNS or ISP blocks — and BLIK moving €102 billion annually makes this material. The grey market already fell from 58.6% to 29.1% since 2017; this accelerates that slide if registry hygiene holds up.
- BLIK now auto-declines transactions to domains on Ministry of Finance illegal gambling register, effective September 1
- Register holds 55,000+ domains, adding ~700 monthly; BLIK processed €102 billion across 2.9 billion transactions in 2025
- Grey market share dropped to 29.1% in 2024 from 58.6% in 2017; UOKiK now auditing licensed operators using AI for dark patterns
SCCG angle: SCCG has direct relationships with licensed Polish operators and payment providers in every CEE jurisdiction. We help clients structure compliant payment flows, navigate registry risks, and connect with partners who understand how to operate inside tightening infrastructure controls — not just licensing, but the operational layer underneath.
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