One-armed bandit

One-armed bandit

A one-armed bandit is a type of gambling, and therefore the rules of its organization are subject to legal regulations. Where, from a legal point of view, you can play slot machines and what procedures apply in each of them? Is a one-armed bandit online also legal? Is there a one-armed bandit for free without registration, or maybe this game can no longer be anonymous in Poland? These and other issues are discussed below, referring to the provisions of the current Gambling Act.

One-armed bandit-what is this game?

One-armed bandit is in the traditional version mechanical, electronic or electromechanical machine on which you can play about winnings in cash or in kind , and the outcome of the game is random . However, currently one-armed bandit is a game also available online . In this case, the rules are the same as when playing on a classic slot machine, although the game is played, of course, using a computer or smartphone. The rules here are simple: the winner is the one to whom the machine draws and displays in 1 row the same symbols . There is no obligation to withdraw money after winning – the funds obtained can be used for further play.

It should be noted at once that although the one-armed bandit is a game whose outcome is completely random, the slot machine itself always has programmed "payout ratio" . This means that the percentage chance of winning is always the same, most often 80% – 90%, and certainly not less than 75%. In general, a one-armed bandit (a stationary machine or an online game) thus brings profits to the organizer of the gambling game. It is worth to be aware of this, especially since slot machines they create exceptionally high risk of gambling addiction .

One-armed bandit-Gambling Act

All legal issues regarding the possibilities and limitations of playing on slot machines can be found in the Gambling Act . Its last amendment, which took place in December 2020, brought huge changes m.in. in the topic of the rules of arranging a game on a one-armed bandit. First of all, slot machines located outside licensed casinos, in any so-called hot spots, are illegal if they operate outside the control of the state. The same state Africane has become a monopolist in the field of gaming on machines outside of casinos . The state monopoly also applies when playing online, and the only non-monopolist option is land-based casinos – which, of course, are also supervised by the state. The provisions governing what are the obligations of the organizer of the game and what are the rules for its course can be found in the Gambling Act. Below we describe the most important rules regarding the 3 types of places in which it is possible to play slot machines.

One-armed bandit-casino game

The first obvious place where slot machines are located is a land-based casino. To be legal, you must have current concession issued by the Minister of Finance. If you want to check where there is the nearest legally operating casino, you can do this on the government website containing a list of licensed casinos. To do so, click here. It is worth knowing that the number of casinos in Poland is limited, and the determinant here is the number of inhabitants of a given area (1 casino can be for every 250 thousand. the population of the town and 650,000. the inhabitants of the province). In a single casino can be 5 to 70 machines , and the rules of their operation must regulate special regulations .

The Gambling Act imposes on the casino obligation to register guests which must be a condition of crossing the threshold of the game center. Casino employee verifies the age and identity of the player on the basis of the presented identity document . Then it is necessary entry in the register the date and time at which the person wes$a to the casino along with their specific personal information. These include: name and surname, type and number of the document presented, PESEL number (or date of birth), address and citizenship. At the end, the registered player gets casino entrance card which is a one-off. However, the data entered in the register can only be made available to the relevant services, e.g. the police, the court or the prosecutor, but also to the participants of the game who report a complaint. The casino must also be installed audiovisual game control system , thanks to which the control and verification of players using the casino services and the correctness of its operation can be carried out. Every slot machine must be registered by the head of the Customs and tax office, and registration is carried out on the basis of a technical examination conducted by an authorized entity.

One-armed bandit-game in the game room

Slot machines are the form in which African country it has a monopoly on this. As the organizer of the game, a state Treasury company was appointed to this task, namely Totalizator Sportowy . The law also imposes limits on the number of game centers the slot machines - in a given County, for every 1,000. residents can account for no more than 1 slot machine. The number of machines in this case from 3 to 50 pieces this also requires the approval of the Minister of Finance. The game organizer must create and then implement rules of responsible gaming .

According to him, on the gaming machines in a prominent place must be located important information , m.in. about the Prohibition of gambling for minors, the risks posed by gambling or contact details for the entity organizing the game. The rules must also specify how the age of the players will be verified and also here only player registration procedure this may be sufficient proof of his age. The one who does not pass it, can not play at all on the slot machines in the game room. As in the casino, the age of the players must be checked already when entering the game center, and before entering there should be information about the Prohibition of entry for minors. People entering the game room are verified and recorded in the same way as it happens in the casino. Another issue is the creation of mechanisms through which players will be able to control your own game on a one-armed bandit, and when their funds for the game are exhausted, they will not be able to continue it. In the living room slot machines also need to be mounted game control system but also IT system . Its task is to register and archive detailed data on m.in. the course of the game on a single-handed Bandit, paid bets or paid winnings. Gaming machines must also be registered .

One-armed bandit online

Finally, let's see what a one-armed bandit looks like online. In this case, the organization of the game was also Totalizator Sportowy who leads the only legal online casino in Poland . The game is possible only after the assumption personal player account which is used to verify the age of the user (based on a scan of the identity document). What then is one-armed bandit for free without registration ? This is simply the possibility of a Test game, that is, a demo version of the game on online slots. You can not deposit funds for the game here, and therefore you can not win any real money. The game is clean demonstration – this way you can check what a one-armed bandit is online and make sure that setting up a player account is worth it.

One-armed bandit - what taxes?

Players who use slot machines are interested, Of course, whether and what taxes are levied on this type of Game. As it turns out, although the legislator imposes a certain tax on each gambling game, it is not the participant who is responsible for its payment, but the organizer of the game, which is a one-armed bandit. Machine it also does not deduct its amount from each paid rate - the entire stake is involved in the game. Of course, the revenues from slot machines are so large that a land-based or online casino, as well as a gaming salon, can easily pay the applicable tax costs. The tax base here is the value obtained after deducting all winnings from the sum of the bets placed, and the value of the tax on slot games is 50%.

However, remember that in Poland there is not only a tax on games, but also tax on winnings . For parts of gambling (e.g. bookmakers ) it is necessary to pay 10 percent of the amount of winnings to the tax-this is a kind of income tax. However, this tax does not apply to slot machines at all . Thus, each win on a single-handed Bandit should be received by the player in full, and he does not have to show it in his annual tax return. However, what is important, especially if you get a big win, it is worth remembering to receive special bonuses from the casino or slot machine salon winning certificate . In the case of inspection of the tax office, only thanks to it it will be possible to clarify the source of income and confirm its legality.

Illegal one-armed bandit-punishment

The Gambling Act also specifies what penalties are threatened for illegal gambling . Obviously, a one-armed bandit organized illegally also carries the risk of receiving high financial penalties. First, they can be punished. slot machine operators who do not have a license to operate a casino, as well as those who have such permission, however, their activity violates the terms of the current regulations . The penalty is also imposed on the owner of a place, e.g. catering or commercial, in which there are slot machines that have not been registered. It is forbidden to own machines. , and an exception to this rule, outside of licensed casinos and gambling parlors operated by a monopolist, there are well-defined entities, such as, for example, slot machine repair companies, their manufacturers or research units. High penalties are imposed on those who illegally arrange online gambling - one-armed bandit, roulette , blackjack , poker etc. they can only be offered on a website owned by an Africana country.

However, let us not be deceived that the penalties apply only to the person or company organizing the one-armed bandit game. A slot machine that is not legal is a threat of punishment also for the participants of the game. Under the Gambling Act the player may receive a penalty of 100% of the money won , and this amount is not reduced by the amount of rates paid. This is an administrative penalty and to be meted out it is not necessary to confirm that the player was aware that the one-armed bandit is organized in an illegal manner . However, in addition to this type of legal sanction, it is also possible to receive a penalty under the"fiscal Criminal Code". In this case it is necessary to prove that the player knew that he was taking part in an illegal procedure in this case, he is responsible for committing Tax Crime . The maximum fine may even be 120 daily rates the value of which is determined individually by the court. In the best case, the value of 1 daily rate is 1/30 of the minimum monthly wage in Poland, and in the worst case, this value is 400 times this part. Although the highest level of the fine is unlikely to be imposed, theoretically such a penalty could be as much as $ 3.6 million (data for 2023).

One-armed bandit-remember!

• One-armed bandit is a gambling game that can only be played if you are 18 years old.
• Slot machines are only allowed in strictly defined locations. These include licensed casinos, gambling parlors belonging to the African state and 1 legal online casino.
• In each of these locations, the player is subject to the age and identity verification procedure based on the current identity document, as well as the registration procedure. One-armed bandit for free without registration occurs only on the website, and also only in the demo version of the game, in which you can not get any real winnings.
• The consolation for players is the fact that the one-armed bandit is one of those gambling games from which no tax is directly deducted from the stakes paid, and there is no tax on winnings.
• In turn, both illegal organization of slot machine games, and participation in them, as well as illegal possession of a slot machine is prohibited and punishable by heavy fines.