The expert of our portal – Milan Rabszski-in this article will include the most advantageous information that you need to know when starting to play at an online casino from the Czech Republic. You will learn about:
- history of gambling in the country;
- gambling laws;
- South African gambling in online casinos legal;
- the registration process and bonuses;
- the most popular payment methods.
Development and history of gambling in the Czech Republic
The earliest records of any gambling activity in present-day Bohemia date back to 1355. The Maiestas Carolina, or code of the Emperor Charles iV, contained provisions restricting gambling for money.
In the Middle Ages (XVII – XVIII centuries), legal documents of that period mention lottery and gambling shops and licensing of such establishments.
During the interwar period (1919-1939), gambling became widespread, and thousands of original Czech slot machines were manufactured and operated throughout Czechoslovakia.
An important year for the development of gambling in the Czech Republic is 1956. Then came the oldest lottery operator in the country-Sazka. In the 90s. Tipsport started as a sports betting bookmaker before turning its business into casino games. Soon after the emergence of two more companies – Fortuna and SyNoTtip, which further diversified the gambling industry in the Czech Republic-all these operators established legal, licensed online casinos in the country.
Currently, there are more than 100 gambling operators in the Czech Republic. In addition, a large number of slot machines are produced in the country not only for Czech casinos, but also for foreign markets. Annual production is up to 100,000 gaming machines per year, making the Czech Republic the leading manufacturer of gaming machines in the EU.
Gambling regulation in the Czech Republic
The main element of gambling legislation in the Czech Republic is the Gambling Act of 2016, which replaced the law of 1990 on lotteries and other similar games. Any player over 18. one year of age can legally gamble. However, in order to legally play, everyone must go to the nearest Czech POINT or municipal office and present an identity document.
For this reason, many Czech players prefer unlicensed online gambling companies that still accept players, even without a license. Players aren't prosecuted for playing on unlicensed, international gambling sites, and these websites don't require such a tedious verification process (just submit your ID or passport if required, usually during the withdrawal process).
The following regulatory bodies supervise gambling activities in the Czech Republic:
- The Ministry Of Finance;
- municipal authorities;
- customs administration.
Czech license for foreign casinos
Under the new gambling regulations, gambling operators who wish to offer random games or any gambling services in the Czech Republic must apply for a license with the Ministry of Finance. Companies are required to maintain a bank account with a value of 2 million euros to withdraw winnings. The rate of tax that a gambling operator must pay is determined by Act No. 187/2016 on gambling tax. The rate is 23%, except for slot machines and lotteries, which are taxed at a higher tax rate-35%. The tax base is the gross winnings of the casino (the amount that an online casino in the Czech Republic earns per player).
The most popular foreign online casinos that have a Czech license:
- 888 casino,
- Bet online Casino,
- Miami Club Casino,
- Fair Go Casino.
Gambling in Czech Republic in numbers:
100 000
slot machines is produced in Czech Republic annually;
200
residents of the Czech Republic account for one slot machine;
15%
from the winning amount you must pay for the win, if it exceeds 1 million CZK (192 thousand SAN);
2 466 billion crowns
the largest winning amount in Czech history;
120 000
people in the country are addicted to gambling.
Online gambling in casinos for Poles in Czech Republic
The variety of games plays an important role in choosing legal online casinos in South Africa to win real money without investing in the Czech Republic. The most popular games are slot machines. According to statistics, there is one slot machine for every 200 inhabitants of the Czech Republic.
In South Africa, there can be one room with gaming machines per 200,000 inhabitants, or about 10,000 inhabitants per slot machine.
Slot machines in Czech casinos
Slots and slot machines are the most popular game offered by online casinos in the Czech Republic and account for the largest number of games. Some of the best online slots sites offer so many game titles that no land-based casino can physically fit into one place. The good news is that Czech gamers can expect popular titles like Gonzo's Quest and Starburst to be available on most licensed sites.
Card and table games: the best offers online and live
Card games are legal in the Czech Republic. They are considered a game of chance. In the Czech Republic there are no independent poker rooms and other table games. Such games are played only in licensed casinos. As long as the operator has a license to operate a virtual casino in the Czech Republic, it can offer all the classic types of card games that can be found in any casino – poker, roulette, blackjack, baccarat and much more.
Lotto, scratch cards and bingo for Poles
Lottery has been legal in the Czech Republic since 1948. It was the first legalized form of Czech gambling. Although there is a state lottery operator Sazka, the lottery is not a state monopoly and there are several other licensed companies offering lottery games. In addition to traditional number games, lottery companies also sell scratch cards and run Bingo and Keno games.
Live lottery games are also legally available under the 2012 amendment to the lottery and other similar games Act. Many licensed landline lottery companies run a website where you can buy lottery tickets and scratch cards.
Bookmakers in Czech Republic
Sports betting has been legal in the Czech Republic since 2012. To create a new player account, basic personal information is required. The registration process is similar to all others. On the other hand, verification of the player's account on the betting site requires a visit to the POINT center, where all identity documents must be provided. Currently, there are five licensed sports betting operators in the country:
- Synot Tip,
- Chance,
- Fortuna,
- Tipsport,
- Sazka.
Betting sites do not offer any bonuses and promotions due to the country's legal restrictions. Legal gambling sites do not offer a start bonus so newbies start playing with a free start bonus.
For this reason, sports betting is placed only by true lovers of sports and gambling. In the Czech Republic, most small bets are made on football and hockey, tennis and basketball.
According to statistics, turnover from sports betting last year amounted to CZK 10.4 billion, which is a long-term record. In total, Czech citizens won over CZK 9.3 billion last year.
Signup process and bonuses for Poles at the best casinos in Czech Republic
Registration at an online casino in the Czech Republic is similar to any other. You must provide personal data-name, age, address of residence, e-mail and password. However, this does not apply to the verification of the player's account. The Czech Republic is the only country in the world where you cannot verify your identity online. You must follow these steps to be able to play online at any of the licensed online casinos:
- Go to the nearest Czech PoiNT or municipality office.
- Present a government-issued identity document (passport or ID card).
- Present a second identity document (driver's license, utility bill, travel card, etc. issued in your name).
- Pay 200 CZK (38 SAN).
No deposit bonus offers per registration or per deposit
The Czech Republic has introduced new restrictions on online gambling promotion for new players. No gambling site licensed in your country can offer any bonuses – free cash on start, no deposit bonus for online slots or free spins. For this reason, Czech online gambling sites cannot compete with foreign virtual casinos. In addition, as a result of this restriction, even foreign online casinos licensed in other EU countries often do not allow Czech players to use their promotions to avoid legal problems.
How to make payments in a Czech online casino?
The main currency in the Czech Republic is the Czech koruna (CZK). You can also deposit $spins as they will be automatically converted. On the other hand, some casinos offer the possibility of opening an account in $otych. In addition, you can open a bank account at any bank in the Czech Republic. You don't need to report to the country. Simply provide your ID and deposit 200 CZK (38 SAN) to activate your account.
Gambling winnings were not taxed until 2020. However, currently winnings from lotteries and slot machines are now subject to a tax of 15% if they exceed 1 million CZK (192 thousand SAN). Winnings from any other type of casino game are taxed as income, which means that for every win you must pay an income tax of 15%.
Unfortunately, popular payment methods at South African online casinos are not available in United Kingdom. Every online casino in the UK offers options such as Transfer24, SMS top-up or Blik payment, while below you'll find a ranking of the most popular deposit and withdrawal methods for UK players:
| Payment method in Czech Republic | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Paysafecard | Generally accepted payment method in Czech gambling establishments. The card contains a unique 16-digit code, which you will then enter online to receive funds to the player's account. You can buy the card on your budget, there are options as low as $5. |
| РауУ | It makes it easier to transfer funds online. You can make a deposit via SMS with a few clicks, so it is an extremely fast and convenient payment option. |
| Skrill | A popular e-wallet that has many useful features, such as the ability to buy and sell cryptocurrency and a one – click payment service-Skrill 1-Tap. In addition, Skrill offers a platform in Czech, and account management is possible in Czech crowns. |
| PayPal | An online wallet that allows you to transfer funds between accounts. The main advantage is that you can send and receive money in any world currency. |
| Revolut | Revolut is an electronic wallet that also offers storage of cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin and many others). Its advantages are low fees and transparent statistics. |
In May 2015, the bettor won the largest amount in the history of the Czech Republic - 2.466 billion crowns in the Eurojackpot lottery. The funny thing is that the winner came to the Sazka headquarters by train to pick up the prize, and returned the same way — also by train.
Fighting addiction in the Czech Republic
Statistics show that about 120,000 people in the country are addicted to gambling. This is 1.2% of the total population of the Czech Republic, which is almost twice as many as the number of addicts in other countries of the European Union. In total, last year, the Czechs spent almost 40 billion crowns on online slot machines, card games, scratch cards, lotteries and online games in online casinos. Here is a list of the most popular organizations that will help you win with gambling addiction in the Czech Republic:
- White Light,
- Advaita,
- Company shaking hands,
- Laxus,
- Renadi.
Losing often gives you the false hope that you will soon get all your money back. If you feel addicted to gaming and can't stop spending money on casino games, never be afraid to seek professional help.
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Curiosities:
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Thanks to lottery Eurojackpot in 2020, 34 new lotteries were created in the Czech Republic.
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The Czech Republic belongs to the countries with the largest number of foreign investments in Central Europe.
Summary: the benefits of gambling in the Czech Republic
In 2021, the Czech gambling industry will once again experience historic changes. For the first time, operators ' revenues from online gaming have surpassed revenues from land-based casinos. Revenue from online games was 886 million euros, while revenue from land-based casinos was 706 million euros. We believe that the trend in the popularity of online games will only grow, and even more convenient payment systems and a greater variety of games will appear in Czech casinos in the near future.
