Games of chance are very popular in Poland, and the prize money is not bad! Gamblers can bet at a bookmakers or try their luck in a casino.

The Lotto is the most popular game of chance in Poland. If your 6 numbers out of 9 come up in the Duży Lotek the minimal guaranteed prize money is one million złotys. If no one wins in a draw, half of the money goes to the next draw, it’s called the Accumulator. A record win of 20.119.858 złoty and 20 grosze happened in June 2004.
In the Lotto booths around the town you can also buy lottery tickets to win money (up to 1 million złotys) or goods (from refrigerators to cars).

Betting at a bookmaker is becoming the more popular form of trying your luck. You can bet on the score of a hokey match in Finland, a tennis tournament in France or auto racing in Częstochowa. You can win up to 10 000 złotys on one bet; there is a ten percent tax on your winnings. Although there are bookmakers websites in the Polish language betting through them is illegal…
Horse racing (wyścigi konne) has a long tradition in Poland. Unfortunately the legal situation of the three national race-courses: Służewiec in Warsaw, Hippodrome in Sopot and Partynice in Wrocław has not been regularized; fans of horse racing can only watch them, which can also be as exciting as betting. Horse racing at hippodromes around the country start in April.

Casinos attract gamblers with a fatter wallet. Here you can play poker, roulette, blackjack (poker, ruletka, blackjack) or try your luck with one-hand-bandits. Casinos are of a high standard and class and are therefore very popular among foreign tourists.
The casino in the Grand Hotel in Sopot is one of the most popular gambling places in Poland. It is the subject of many a dark tale, of dubious anecdotes and even films. When booking your room there ask if the apartment where Charles de Gaulle (and Adolf Hitler before him) stayed is not available …