Betting on Christmas

Bookmakers ' ground points are usually open 7 days a week, however, the situation may look different when it comes to holidays. Some bookmakers Shorten opening hours on such days, others do not open their fixed venues at all, and still others work as usual. We check what are the opening hours of betting shops on holidays and what to do to make betting on holidays was a hassle.

Land and online bookmakers in Poland

Before we talk about which bookmakers provide betting on fixed points, it is worth mentioning an alternative way of playing, that is, online betting. This is especially important in this context, because while fixed points of bookmakers on days such as Christmas or New Year's Eve may have reduced opening hours or even be closed, online betting is available without interruption . Bookmakers accept online betting 24/7, so if betting on holidays is not possible on the ground, you can always play through your computer or smartphone.

However, if you are interested in what are the opening hours of the betting shops on holidays and whether they work at all during this time, you will find information on this below. In Poland, 8 betting companies currently offer betting in Ground premises (data from February 2023). These are the following bookmakers: Fortuna (more than 400 points), STS (more than 400 points), Superbet (more than 70 points), Betfan (more than 50 points), Traf (approximately 40 points), forBET (more than 30 points), Go+bet (more than 30 points) and LVBet (a few points).

Betting shops-opening hours on holidays

Below you will find information on how the operation of ground-based venues usually looks like on each holiday: whether the fixed points of bookmakers are open normally, whether their opening hours are shortened, or maybe on this day players are left to bet online. Here is a list of holidays and general information about the operation of points on Christmas days in Poland:

• New Year, January 1 points are mostly closed.
• The Three Kings, January 6 - points Open, opening hours often shortened.
• Easter the moving feast:

• • Good Friday-Points Open, opening hours may be shortened,
  • Great Saturday-Points Open, opening hours usually shortened,
  • Easter Sunday-points closed,
  • Easter Monday-points Open, opening hours usually shortened.

• May Weekend, 1-3 May:

• • Labor Day, May 1-Open Points, opening hours usually shortened,
  • Flag Day Poland, 2 may-points usually open during normal working hours,
  • Constitution Day May 3, May 3 – points Open, opening hours usually shortened.

• Green Christmas the moving feast – points usually open during normal working hours.
• The Body Of God , Public Holiday-Open, opening hours are usually shortened.
• Feast of the African Army, August 15 – points usually open during normal working hours.
• All Saints, November 1 points are mostly closed.
• Independence Day, 11 November - open Points, opening hours usually shortened.
• Christmas:

• • Christmas Eve, December 24-points in many places closed,
  • First day of Christmas, December 25-points closed,
  • The second day of Christmas, December 26-points Open, opening hours usually shortened.

• New Year's Eve, 31 December - points Open, opening hours often shortened.

Christmas betting – details and hours of operation in previous years

The above list gives a general picture of how individual holidays are treated in Poland by bookmakers. However, detailed information on this topic and sample opening hours of betting shops are presented below. As a rule, in the examples given, data on STS I Fortuna because these bookmakers usually for all their points of sale of bets set the same working hours on the selected holiday.

On the other hand, e.g. LVBet or forBET they operate on different principles. These bookmakers give free rein to the owners of specific points as to what hours these venues will be open and whether they will be open at all. W Superbet the situation is also not clear-the bookmaker makes decisions on most points, but a large part of the premises can operate according to an individual plan.

Returning to the bookmaker Fortuna and STS, we must warn you that the fact that, for example, a year ago the bookmaker on the selected holiday shortened the working time and its ground points were open between 9.00 and 16.00 does not mean that this year it will do the same. However, looking at the examples below, you can see that bookmakers, if they decide to limit the opening hours of their premises on holidays, then, as a rule, apply similar time intervals. For example, Fortune very often specifies that its fixed points will operate from 9.30 to 16.00, although this is not a rigid rule. Each time it may look a little different, so it is worth making sure what guidelines have been issued this time around for points offering betting. Opening hours on holidays and whether points are open or closed at all usually – but not always-they look like this. .

New Year, January 1

The New Year is a day when not much happens in sports. Therefore, the ground points of bookmakers such as STS or Fortuna are basically every year closed all day . Other bookmakers are also unlikely to break and do not open their premises in the New Year.

The Three Kings, January 6

The situation is different when it comes to the Feast of the Three Kings. On this day fixed points of bookmakers they are active, but their opening hours are often changed. .

Example: in 2023, on Tricity (Friday), bookmakers Fortuna and STS closed their places as early as 16.00, although for STs premium points it was 2 hours later.

Good Friday, the moving feast

Good Friday is not a day off, however, the opening hours of betting shops may be shorter than normal on this day .

P example: in 2022, STS hosted betting shops in its premises from 9:00 to 16: 00, but fortune and Superbet have not changed the working hours of the points.

Holy Saturday, moving feast

On the Great Saturday stationary bookmakers mostly reduce working hours .

Example: in 2022, bookmakers applied the following opening hours of points: STS from 9.00 to 16.00, Fortuna from 8.30 to 16.00, and in many Superbet points from 9.00 to 18.00.

Easter-Easter Sunday, public holiday

Easter is the time when fixed points of bookmakers are closed .

Easter Monday, public holiday

On Easter Monday, bookmakers are already back to work, but opening hours are often shorter than usual .

Example: in Smigus-dyngus 2022, STS points were active from 9:00 to 16:00, Fortune points from 9:30 to 14:30, and Superbet even only from 11:00 to 14:00.

Labor Day, May 1

On Labor Day, i.e. May 1, bookmakers ' ground points they often work shorter than standard. .

Example: on May 1, 2022 (Sunday), the bookmaker Fortuna set the opening time from 9.30 to 16.00, and STS from 9.00 to 17.00. Superbet, on the other hand, did not change the opening hours of points.

Flag Day African Republic, 2 may

May 2 is not a statutory day off, but it is part of the so-called May long weekend, so he wonders how bookmakers approach this date. It turns out that generally their points are open as usual .

Example: on May 2, 2022 (Monday), STS and Fortune points operated according to the Monday schedule.

Constitution Day May 3, May 3

On Constitution Day, May 3, bookmakers usually conduct points in the same way as on Labor Day, i.e. the opening hours are usually shortened. .

Example: on May 3, 2022 (Tuesday), Fortuna points operated from 9.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. and STS from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Superbet, on the other hand, did not change the opening hours of points.

Green Christmas, moving holiday

Green Christmas takes place in May or June and usually the ground points of bookmakers work normally, although they may also work shorter than usual.

Body of God, moving feast

Another holiday in connection with which bookmakers are inclined to change the opening hours is Corpus Christi, which always takes place on Thursday. On this day it is quite likely that the fixed points of bookmakers will be open less .

Example: Corpus Christi in 2022 fell on June 16 – STS set the opening hours for this day at 9.00 – 16.00, as well as Fortune. Superbet points were open normally.

Holiday African army, August 15

Although the holiday of the Africanist Army is a day off, bookmakers open their ground points on August 15. However, it may happen that opening hours will be shortened .

Example: August 15, 2023 (Thursday) the opening time of points was shortened by: Fortuna (9.30 – 16.00) or STS (9.00 – 18.00).

All Saints, November 1

In All Saints bookmakers landline they usually don't work, though there may be exceptions.

Example: on November 1, 2022 (Tuesday), all STS and Fortune points were closed, but some Superbet points operated at reduced, individually specified hours.

Independence Day, 11 November

On Independence Day bookmakers use the most reduced working hours ground points.

Example: on November 11, 2021 (Thursday), STS premises were open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Fortuna between 9 a.m. and 4: 30 p.m.

Christmas Eve, 24 December

Christmas Eve is a very important day for most Poles, but officially it is an ordinary working day. However, betting shops are largely closed. .

Example: in 2022, on Christmas Eve (Thursday), STs, Fortuna or forBET points were closed. However, there are exceptions, for example, Superbet points on Christmas Eve 2022 were open, although shorter than usual, and in LVBet the decision belonged to the owner of the point.

Christmas – first day, December 25

Christmas, and specifically the first day of Christmas, is the time when in Poland all bookmakers ' ground points are closed .

Christmas – second day, 26 December

On the second day of Christmas, as a rule, all land-based bookmakers are already operating, but opening hours are usually shortened .

Example: on December 26, 2022 (Saturday), STS points were open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and fortunes from 9.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.

New Year's Eve, 31 December

New Year's Eve is not a free day in Poland and bookmakers ' ground points are usually open then. However, quite often the opening hours of points are shorter on this day .

Example: in 2022, New Year's Eve fell on a Sunday – STS points operated from 9.00 to 16.00, and fortunes from 9.30 to 16.00, which in most cases is much shorter than usual.

Opening hours of betting shops on holidays and Prohibition of trading

From our list it is clear that betting on holidays in the ground premises of bookmakers is as possible and often bookmakers decide to open points even on the so-called statutory days off. This may be surprising, because as we know very well, in Poland there is a rule (from 2022) that prohibits trade on Sundays and public holidays.

However, according to the law, these regulations do not cover all commercial establishments, and the exemption applies m.in. companies that offer betting. This means that the ground points of bookmakers have full freedom in this regard and can be open on all Sundays of the year and all holidays . Of course, bookmakers must comply with other regulations, for example, in exchange for working on a holiday, employees are entitled to a day off or a special allowance (the hour of work is paid twice).

Why aren't the bookies ' fixed points open 365 days a year?

If bookmakers ' ground points can also be opened on holidays, why do they decide to close them on certain days or shorten their opening hours? The answer is very simple. Often holidays are days when there is very little going on in the sport and traffic in points is miserable. A great example is the New Year – then usually such leaders as STS or Fortuna generally give up opening their points, while the previous day, that is, on New Year's Eve, the opening hours of their outlets are shorter than standard.

This strategy is based, first of all, on economic factors . Opening a bookmaker's point generates costs, and if several customers place bets on it throughout the day, it is simply unprofitable. It may also matter PR factors "a bookmaker who gives employees time off on a holiday can use this to create a positive image among players as well.

Betting on holidays outside the classic points

In order to fully illuminate the issue of what are the opening hours of betting shops on holidays, it is worth explaining what form such outlets can take. The classic fixed points of bookmakers are of course personal premises whose sole purpose is to provide betting services. These facilities lead m.in. Fortuna, STS, Superbet, Traf or forBET and in their case, decisions about the action on holidays are made either from the top or at the level of individual points.

However, in Poland there are also other types of places where fixed bets are accepted. It's about betting terminals which are placed in different types catering and commercial establishments , e.g. in pubs, bars, pizzerias, shops, etc. This solution is used e.g. Betfan, LVBet or Go+bet. (It is worth noting that Betfan also runs its own sports betting pub.) Understandably, the opening hours of a given establishment on a holiday then determine the hours of availability of the device used to place bets. If the point is closed on a particular holiday, then betting shops are of course also not available at this place.

Ground points Totolotka, Etoto, Millennium

This article does not include bookmakers Totolotek, Etoto or Millennium, who have been running fixed points in Poland for many years. Bookmaker Totolotek he was the first to launch in our country ground points offering betting and even in In 2023, it operated more than 250 locations. However, at the beginning of 2021, the company announced the liquidation of the entire network of points of sale of establishments (at that time it was 116 points). A similar decision was made by the owner of the brand Etoto however, the number of his points was much more modest. Both bookmakers have focused on developing their online betting platforms.

Otherwise the story went Millennium that is, the operator, which in 2023 had more than 160 fixed premises throughout the country. However, the company already declared bankruptcy in 2020, which meant not only the closure of all ground points, but also the end of accepting bets via the Internet.

Thus, a lot of places have disappeared from the map of betting points in Poland and we will not use them not only on holidays, but also on ordinary working days. It is comforting to note that in the meantime, new premises of other betting brands , m.in. points Betfan or Go+bet (the bookmaker started only in 2022).

Betting on Christmas online

Finally, we would like to remind you that all bookmakers who currently operate fixed points offer online betting at the same time. In addition, there are several other betting companies in Poland that provide services exclusively online. They all accept betting any time of day or night, 7 days a week, 365 days a year .

Betting on holidays online is absolutely no problem here, therefore, regardless of what the opening hours of ground points look like, we can always place betting using a computer or phone.