🇨🇿Czech Republic gambling regulation

Legal framework at a glance

The Czech Republic replaced its 1990 Lotteries Act with Act No. 186/2016 Coll. on Gambling and a separate Gambling Tax Act, both effective from 1 January 2017. The laws opened online gambling to licensed operators from the Czech Republic and other EU/EEA states, introduced a national exclusion register and gave the state powers to block illegal websites and payments. Lotteries are licensed rather than reserved to a monopoly.

The regulator

The Ministry of Finance issues licences and runs the Register of Excluded Persons and the list of illegal gambling sites. Supervision and enforcement, including inspections and seizure of illegal machines, are carried out by the Customs Administration. Municipalities decide whether land-based venues may operate locally and can ban some games by ordinance.

Licensing

Licensing is two-stage for land-based gambling: a basic licence from the Ministry, then a location permit from the municipality for gaming rooms and casinos. Online games need only the basic licence. Licensable game types include:

Game type	Example	Tax rate
Technical games	Slots, electronic roulette	35%
Lotteries	Draw and instant lotteries	35%
Bets	Sports and totalisator betting	30%
Live games	Roulette, blackjack, poker	30%
Bingo	Bingo	30%

Foreign operators may be licensed if they meet capital, security and reporting requirements, but several left when the regime began in 2017. See how to obtain a gambling licence.

Online products — what is and isn’t legal

Online casino, poker, betting and lotteries are legal with licensed operators. Anything else is illegal. The Ministry maintains a list of unauthorised internet games that internet service providers must block, and payments to illegal operators can be blocked.

Taxation

The gambling tax base is stakes received minus winnings paid and refunds. As of 2025 the Financial Administration lists rates of 35% for technical games and lotteries and 30% for betting, totalisator games, live games, bingo, raffles and small tournaments; unlicensed gambling is taxed at 35%. These rates are higher than the original 2017 rates of 35% and 23%, so check the current Gambling Tax Act before relying on older sources. See gambling taxation compared.

Advertising and marketing rules

Licensed operators may advertise under the general Act on the Regulation of Advertising, which prohibits gambling advertising aimed at minors or featuring them. Advertising for unlicensed gambling is illegal. Rules are lighter than in neighbouring Belgium or Poland. See gambling advertising rules.

Player-protection requirements

• Identity, age and RVO checks before play, and on entry to casinos and gaming rooms.
• Mandatory self-limits for stakes, net losses and playing time, with blocking once a limit is reached.
• Game information in Czech.
• Monitoring and reporting systems that feed data to the authorities.

Self-exclusion

The RVO is free, national and has a one-year protective period. See our Czech Republic self-exclusion manual for every filing method.

Enforcement against unlicensed operators

The Ministry’s blocking list obliges internet providers to prevent access to unauthorised gambling sites, and the Customs Administration acts against illegal machines and venues. See payment blocking and ISP blocking.

What this means for players

Czech players have one of Europe’s more complete safety nets, provided they use licensed operators. Every legal site must check the RVO, require you to set limits and block you once a limit is reached. Illegal sites do none of this, and the Ministry’s blocking list can be bypassed.

Practical points:

• Check the licence: the Ministry of Finance publishes lists of licensed operators. If a site is not on them, it is illegal in the Czech Republic.
• Use the panic button: the 48-hour exclusion is designed for acute moments, such as after a big loss, when the urge to chase is strongest. See relapse prevention and urges.
• Longer protection: if you need more than a pause, register in the RVO, which runs for at least a year.
• Check your status: you can request an extract from the register to see whether you are listed and why, which is helpful if you are refused entry unexpectedly.
• Debt and insolvency: people in insolvency proceedings are entered in the register by law. If debts are part of the picture, a debt counselling service can help; the national help map lists them.
• Family: relatives can call either helpline for advice on supporting someone.

Because the register is free, quick to file online and hard to reverse in the first year, it is one of the most effective self-exclusion tools in Europe.

Recent developments and what to watch

• Tax: rates have risen since 2017; watch for further changes in budget packages.
• Municipal bans: many towns restrict or ban gaming rooms, shifting play online.
• Register use: the Ministry has expanded online filing and added features such as protective-period renewal.

For free help, see our Czech Republic help directory. This page is general information, not legal advice.