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According to Finance Ministry data obtained by daily Puls Biznesu, Poles spent as much as zł.17.1 billion on betting in Poland last year. Half this was spent on automated gambling machines alone.

The sum was 42 percent higher than the 2007 figure, which stood at zł.12 billion, according to the daily. It also eclipsed 2008 household spending on medicines or spirits.

At the end of 2008, almost 23,000 pubs, bars and gas stations around Poland had automated gambling machines installed and gambling operators have lodged applications with the Finance Ministry to register around 30,000 more machines. The operation of such machines was legalized in 2003.

The maximum jackpot that such machines can deliver is €15 (zł.67.31), and the monthly tax on each machine is €180 (zł.807.75). (RG)

Source: Puls Biznesu