Gambling activity increases in Czech Republic

Approximately €1.5 billion was spent by local citizens on gambling in 2017, half a billion more than the previous year.

Czech Republic.- Gambling activity is on the rise in the Czech Republic, as local citizens spent €1.5 billion in 2017. National drug coordinator Jindrich Voboril said that the number represents a half a billion rise when compared to the previous year.

Online gambling helped increase that number, as it accounted for one-third of the sum, while it only totalled 3 per cent in 2009. “Thanks to the technological development, the increase is enormous. The risk is that younger and younger generations gamble. It is more available,” Voboril said.

The coordinator said that the online gambling rise could expose young people to the risks that iGaming brings, therefore it is necessary to have firm regulations. He said that at least 1.5 per cent of the gambling tax revenues should be directed to a gambling problem prevention fund.

However, Finance Minister Alena Schillerova said that she’s against the idea, as any tax discussion should be held during the making of the state budget, Prague Monitor reported. A new gambling law has been operating since 2017, and the Minister said that it has helped the state fight gambling. Moreover, she added that gambling has brought the state €470 million in taxes.