Blik to Halt Payments to Unlicensed Gambling Sites in Poland from September
2026-07-23
Source: Global Gaming Insider
Blik will block payments to illegal gambling websites from September, using an API link to the Ministry of Finance's registry. The move comes amid shrinking grey market share and growing regulator focus on payment providers.
Polish mobile payments system Blik will block transactions linked to illegal gambling sites starting 1 September, following clearance from the National Bank of Poland's president. Operator Polish Payment Standard (PSP) said the system cross-references each transaction's originating domain against the Ministry of Finance's registry of websites violating the Gambling Act. A match triggers an automatic block.
The verification works through an API link between the BLIK scheme and the government's prohibited domains list. PSP noted that the measure applies to payments processed by both domestic and foreign payment agents, extending its effect beyond Poland.
Jerzy Mroczek, PSP's legal director, said the solution aims to "support the consistent application of Polish gambling regulations" and assist payment providers in meeting legal duties regardless of the processing model.
The move follows intensifying scrutiny of payment channels in anti-illegal gambling efforts. European regulators increasingly adopt "follow the money" strategies to cut off financial flows to unlicensed operators.
Data from the Ministry of Finance shows Poland's online gambling grey market has contracted: its estimated share dropped from 58.6% in 2017 to 29.1% in 2024. The ministry's register now holds over 55,000 entries, with roughly 700 new domains added each month.
BLIK processed 2.9 billion transactions worth PLN441.5bn ($116.4bn) in 2025, cementing its position as a leading digital payment system. The new blocking mechanism represents a major milestone in restricting financial access to unlicensed gambling.