Czech betting firms win permission to introduce on-line gambling

Czech betting firms are finally being allowed to get their hands on a slice of the huge on-line gambling pie. After years of lobbying, and promises to prevent minors from betting on their sites, the country’s five biggest bookies are set to receive Finance Ministry permits to introduce online gambling. One of those firms is Fortuna – its Tomáš Bahník explains why the decision was so important for them.

“We are sad and bitter that foreign internet betting companies are allowed to operate in the Czech Republic without any control. There is no legal restriction. So basically they operate in this country illegally. So we want to have the same opportunities as foreign companies.”

How much do you think you are losing?

“I don’t have exact numbers but I would say it is several hundred million a year.”

When do you think your company will actually launch internet betting?

“Internet betting is officially allowed from the 5th of January, so I hope we will be prepared and ready to start right from this date.”

How exactly will it work in practice? One of the reasons politicians were against internet gambling was that it could corrupt minors. Will that be prevented?

“This is very strict and well monitored, in contrast with foreign internet companies. Every person, including teenagers, can use internet betting without control. Our main goal is to control this situation. If someone wants to bet through Fortuna on internet, they must register in a bricks and mortar office and show their ID. Only then they are allowed to play. We don’t accept credit cards but only regular payment cards because we don’t support gambling and gamblers and we don’t want people to become addicted to internet betting. That’s something foreign companies don’t do?”

Do you think that this is one of the reasons that persuaded the Ministry of Finance to allow internet betting?

“Yes, I think it may be one of the main reasons why they accepted our proposition.”

Do you think that you are eventually going to reduce the number of bricks and mortar shops?

“I don’t think so. If you want to register for internet betting, you still need to come to the office first. So reducing the number of our offices seems unlikely. If you look at Slovakia, where we also have our offices, and where internet betting is allowed, there are about 20 percent of bets accepted through Internet and the rest is still accepted in offices.”