Online Casino Czech Republic

Czech Republic (CZ) Online Casino Sites

A myriad of Czech online casinos is welcoming new players with open arms, but just like elsewhere in the online world, not all virtual embraces are equally warm. Although the Czech Republic has implemented very strict laws in regards to online gambling, caution needs to be exercised in all virtual spaces. Another thing a non-Czech player wishing to enter Czech gambling market should consider is the language barrier – even though all major Czech casino sites have an English version, it is just too painstaking to compare all the available options.

Along with our highly competent Czech contributors, our expert team has prepared an overview of the biggest casino sites in the Czech Republic. All sites listed on 1Casino1 guide are thoughtfully hand-picked by our staff, 100% trustworthy and licensed according to the strict Czech gambling legislation. Also, they all offer a whole variety of bonuses to new and returning players.

Licensing of online casinos in the Czech Republic

Czech casinos that take their business seriously will be licensed by a reputable gaming jurisdiction. However, to the benefit of players, obtaining a gaming license in a reputable licensing jurisdiction is no easy task… In general, these licensed jurisdictions have strict honesty and background-check controls in place to ensure that the operator of the online casino complies with the rules and can be trusted by the government and the players.

In case you as a foreign player will register a user account with a Czech online casino not mentioned in our brief guide, you should check the jurisdiction the casino of your choice is registered with. There are several popular international trustworthy licensing jurisdictions, such as the following:

• Gibraltar
• Malta
• Antigua
• Curacao
• Isle of Man

Another consideration is that online casinos that have been in operation for a long time have most likely already proven themselves in the Czech gaming industry due to their longevity. There are, of course, exceptions to this longevity rule, but along with checking the casino’s licensing, you’re probably good to go if the casino checks both boxes.

Online Gambling in Czech Republic: Laws and Regulations

Online gambling is legal in the Czech Republic. However, each player has to comply with a few simple rules and fulfill the requirements imposed by the government.

Ever since the Act on Gambling entered into force in the Czech Republic in January 2017, a large number of foreign online casino providers have understandably decided to leave the Czech market. However, this was by no means an end of online casinos in Czechia; it was rather a radical restructuring of the gambling market that soon began to form from the beginning.

Nowadays, the situation has stabilized and the current offer of online casinos games in the Czech Republic is so vast that there is simply something for every taste available. In addition, the amount of Czech online casinos is growing, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for players to navigate the Czech casino jungle. That’s why we’re here – to give you an understanding of the Czech gambling laws and help you choose the online casino that works best for you.

The New Lottery Law

Both land-based and online casinos in the Czech Republic are currently regulated and controlled by the Lottery Act No. 186/2016 Coll, which entered into force on January 1st, 2017. You can find the most important points relevant to you as an online player below.

Every casino has to obtain a license

The new lottery law clarifies the position of foreign casinos on the Czech gambling market and defines the scope of standard operation. A new requirement to obtain a Czech license has been imposed – a failure to comply will result in the Czech Ministry of Finance blocking the casino’s website and all transactions.

How is this relevant to you as a player? You must then verify the license of a particular casino on the Internet before you start playing.

Register of Players

Just as the state has imposed regulations over casinos and their operators, it also leads a detailed register of all players. Everyone who wishes to gamble must be featured in this register. The Czech government’s aim is to prevent minors and citizens receiving regular social benefits from playing, as well as prevent potential fraud.

For online players, this means – apart from registering for a given casino – having to undergo identity verification. This can be done either through internet banking or in person at the casino’s physical locations, at municipal or regional authorities in the Czech Republic, or at any of the many CzechPoint contact points (some of which are available abroad).

Betting limits imposed on players

Individual online casinos may offer players the setting of certain limits, such as the maximum amount of one bet, the number of logs, the playing time, or the maximum possible amount of loss. The interesting thing, however, is that the player can reject these limits. It is therefore a measure whose significance is at least debatable. However, the law also requires players to take a mandatory quarter-hour break from playing every two hours. This is a fixed limit that cannot be exceeded in any way.

Other considerations

The law also mentions the difference between technical and live play. In a live casino game, players bet against each other (like poker), while in a technical game, the player wrestles against a technical device (like online slots) – in the case of online casinos against a server to which the player is connected.

The new lottery law has been accepted by players and gambling operators only reluctantly but it is valid nonetheless, and everyone involved has to adapt their gameplay to it.

How to start playing in the Czech Republic

Online casino games have been a major phenomenon in the field of gambling in the last decade. The convenience offered by the online environment has already attracted millions of people around the world. From a technical point of view, it couldn’t be easier to start playing in an online casino – many times, opening a new window in the browser is the only step required from the action-ready player. But to reach that point of fat and easy entertainment, a player is obliged to meet the requirements defined in the Czech gambling laws and go through a registration process.

What is required specifically by the Czech legal system? And how does this affect a newcomer in the realm of Czech online casinos? Below you can find a simple guide applicable both to top and less known online casinos.

STEP 1: CREATING A USER ACCOUNT

Most online casinos in the Czech Republic allow new players to try most of the offered games for free without the necessity to register an account. There is, however, a catch. To play for real money, a player is always required to create a user account and go through the registration process.

The registration process consists in filling in various types of personal and other data in the online form. It’s not difficult or time-consuming to open an account, and by opening an account, players can usually play for real money right away. But even here is a catch! Until the player’s identity is verified, the account will operate in a temporary mode, which means that it is not possible to transfer money from the online casino to a personal bank account. Also, the maximum duration of such a temporary gambling account is 30 days.

STEP 2: IDENTITY VERIFICATION

To start playing for real and enjoying all the benefits of online gambling in the Czech Republic, it’s high time for the player to verify their identity. This can be done in several ways, the most popular and convenient one being via internet banking. Although not all online casinos offer all the options below, here’s a list of the most common banks offering identity verification for the purposes of online gambling:

• Česká Spořitelna
• ČSOB
• Moneta Money Bank
• Equa Bank
• Air Bank

However, if the casino where the player decides to play does not support his bank – this will be the case with most foreign players who don’t have the opportunity to open a Czech bank account – all he has to do is choose one of the physical branches of the casino in question and verify his identity by providing all the documents specified on the website of the particular casino.

The last option left to those players who for some reason cannot use online authentication using internet banking or cannot visit a physical branch of the casino in person. The last option is visiting one of the so-called CzechPoints, relevant regional authorities or a notary. A player is required to bring two identity documents, information and business data about the casino where they intend to register and also pay a small fee of 200 CZK (less than 10 EUR). At one of these places, a so-called “Public Document on the identification of a natural person” must be filled out, copied, scanned and sent to the online casino where the player wishes to begin gambling.

However, foreign players can choose any international casino indicated in the list of 1Casino1, which accepts players from all over the world and have obtained an international license.

Gambling History in Czech Republic

The Czech market lags behind the world in terms of gambling, even though betting offices experienced a small boom in the 1990s. The history of odds betting in the country began several months after the fall of communism, when four illegal bookmakers opened a betting office Fortuna. Before that, odds betting on sports and gambling was illegal. The access to gambling was thus mediated to the Czechs by the Velvet Revolution, and since then, revenues from betting have climbed to 13 billion CZK a year.

The most recent big moment for online gambling in the Czech Republic was the advent of the Internet. The growing importance of the Internet, the advancing media coverage of sports, the ever-increasing number of bettors – all this leads to a huge increase in the offer and expansion of services. Many Czech bookmakers today also support live betting, where the bettor can see if his bet was correct.

The Future of Online Gambling in Czech Republic

In 2018, the share of bets placed on the Internet rose by 3.3% to 91 percent. Of the 64.6 billion CZK bet by players, 58.7 billion CZK was bet via the Internet. In total, a record of 224.1 billion CZK was struck, which was 5 times more than in 2009.

The share of online betting is currently around 95%. At the same time, the popularity of bets placed via mobile applications is growing.

What does this mean for the future of Czech online casinos? That they, like most other services, are subject to increased digitalization. They will also be readily available across all devices and on all operating systems. There’s also a clear increase in the amount bet by Czechs every year.

Czech Republic Casino Online FAQ (5)

• Is It Legal to Play on Online Gambling Sites in Czech Republic?

  Yes, if certain requirements are met. A new Lottery Law, which requires all players who wish to gamble using real money to verify their identity using one of three specific methods, has entered into force in 2017. The player must also be 18+ to be able to register a user account.

• Do Czech Republic Authorities Allow for Online Sports Betting?

  Yes, under certain conditions. Since the new Lottery Law applies to online betting as well, the conditions that need to be met by online casinos/betting agencies and players alike. A registered account and identity verification are required on the side of the players, as well as the minimal age of 18+.

• Is online gambling safe for Czech Republic?

  One of the upsides of the current rather strict gambling legislation is the increased safety of online gambling and betting in the Czech Republic. Online casinos and betting agencies must fulfill many strict requirements and obtain a Czech license, all under a close surveillance of relevant Czech legal organs. Even though there is always a certain possibility of fraud in any online space, a reasonably cautious player will enjoy a very safe gambling experience in Czech online casinos.

• Are Bonuses Offered by Online Casinos in Czech Republic?

  Yes! All major Czech online casinos offer various bonuses ranging from registration and entry bonuses to loyalty bonuses. Most bonuses are offered as a percentage discount, free spins or a set amount discount.

• What Are the Available Deposit Methods?

  Every deposit and withdrawal must be made in a way that the payment is traceable. The most readily available deposit methods include: bank transfer, payment by card (withdrawal to a bank account), paysafecard, transfer via Paysafecard, PayPal or Skrill online wallet and deposit at a physical branch of the casino.