From September 1, important changes. Some transfers will be blocked

Starting September 1, Poland's popular BLIK payment system will implement a new mechanism to block transactions directed at illegal online gambling websites. Polski Standard Płatności, the operator of BLIK, has received approval from the National Bank of Poland's president to launch this new control system for internet payments.

The verification process will be automated, utilizing an API interface to connect BLIK with the Ministry of Finance's register. This new rule specifically targets payments made to gambling services operating in violation of Polish law. If a website's domain appears in the ministry's register of illegal gambling sites, the transaction will be blocked.

BLIK assures users that their ability to make payments in physical and online stores, withdraw cash from ATMs, and perform phone transfers will remain unaffected. The primary goal of this initiative is to standardize rules and more effectively enforce existing Polish regulations concerning online gambling. The government has been actively combating the illegal gambling sector, with the "grey zone" reportedly decreasing from 58.6% in 2017 to 29.1% in 2024.