A new offence of “patostreaming.” What does it mean for the gambling industry?
The draft amendment to the Polish Criminal Code of 29 January 2026 introduces a new offence commonly referred to as “patostreaming,” defined as the public dissemination online of content depicting the commission of certain criminal acts. The regulation may also cover streams or materials showing illegal gambling activities, including games offered by foreign platforms without a Polish licence. In practice, this could expand criminal liability beyond game operators to include streamers, influencers and entities promoting such content. As a result, the proposal may significantly affect marketing practices and affiliate cooperation in the gambling sector.