Gaming & Gambling Law
Law Firm
Stricter after 2017
From 1 January 2017, a completely new legal regulation on the operation of gambling brought a number of significant changes in this area, in the form of stricter regulation. These are not only new tools leading to the reduction of harmful social consequences and protection of players and their surroundings, but also to an increase in the taxation of gambling and an increase in the possibility of regulating gambling by municipalities and cities. At the same time, the new legislation responded to the opening of the gambling market to entities based abroad and the growing use of the Internet and online betting in this area.
The so-called gambling, betting and lotteries are very strictly regulated in Czech law. The commencement of operations in the Czech Republic is subject to strict approval processes and has its own specific rules and requirements. Our experts are also familiar with the related rules of the European Union. We also provide assistance to operators in Gibraltar in connection with the planned departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
The challenges of licensing
Our services primarily include representation in the field of permitting and reporting proceedings for the operation of gambling in the Czech Republic before the Ministry of Finance, and therefore before municipal authorities. Foreign and domestic founders often turn to us already in the phase of choosing a suitable legal entity for the chosen type of business. The law is not clearly legible in this matter, so such prudence is most appropriate. A legal entity that is an applicant for a gambling operator license must meet many strict criteria regarding its structure. These include the requirement of an organizational structure with a so-called transparent and comprehensive definition. We will advise you on what this is about and how compliance with such a requirement is proven. The existence of a control body required by law and many other requirements that are necessary to document in the permitting procedure before the Ministry of Finance are also necessary.
Trustworthy and Transparent
Fulfilling all the requirements for the legal structure of the entity is only the beginning of a long process before all is set for the application. Such an entity needs to be funded transparently and credibly. Our clients consider legal assistance in matters of proving the applicant's own resources and credible proof of the transparent and harmless origin of these resources to be very useful.
A related issue is the provision of the necessary deposit to the Ministry of Finance, its type and amount determined according to the type of gambling. Last but not least, we also provide advice on the issue of contractual treatment of server placement and its documentation in the permitting procedure.
We also ensure the preparation of the necessary documents and documents for these permitting procedures and the proper operation of gambling, including the assessment of gaming concepts and rules. Our law firm also cooperates with forensic experts in this field.
We provide especially the following legal services in the area of the hazards:
- Complex legal advisory in the area of hazard and lottery.
- Representing for the licensing and registration process of a gambling business.
- Advisory on fulfilment of the legal requirements on legal structure with transparent and coherent specification.
- Advisory on fulfilment of the legal requirements on proving in a trustworthy manner the transparent and admissible origin of the financial sources.
- contractual documentation on the server placement for the licensing purposes
- Representation in front of supervisory authorities
- Advisory on the previously valid hazard laws, act no. 202/1991Col.
Selected legal specialists for you
Read our experts' articles
Revocation of a gaming hall operating permit
Are you in the gambling business and have you obtained a permit from a municipality to operate a gaming venue? If so, you should be aware that the municipality can revoke it in the future. This can even happen halfway through the period for which it was issued. All it takes is for the municipal council to adopt a generally binding decree completely banning gambling operations within its territory. The Supreme Administrative Court recently ruled on exactly such a situation in its judgment, case no. 4 As 68/2026, and its conclusions should be known by anyone who invests in a gaming venue.<br>
Cybersecurity and Compliance for Online Gambling Operators in 2026
Running an online gambling platform means proving real cybersecurity, not just holding a licence – get it wrong and fines can reach 50 million CZK, or you lose the licence altogether. The rules require player verification, secured data, and reporting attacks to regulators within 24 hours. Here's what steps to take and where operators usually go wrong.
Online Gambling Regulation in the Czech Republic and EU
Running an online casino or betting site for Czech players requires a licence from the Ministry of Finance, even if you already hold a valid licence from another EU country – operating without one can bring a fine of up to CZK 50 million and a website block. Find out what conditions you must meet and how regulation differs across Europe.
Legal Pathways for Czech Businesses Entering Foreign Gambling Markets
A Czech company can't offer gambling abroad without a licence from the local regulator, even if the website runs on a server outside the country. In many countries, unlicensed operation is a criminal offence with personal liability for directors and the risk of frozen accounts. Find out which legal routes exist for entering foreign gambling markets and how to tax the income correctly.
An Overview of the Gambling Act in the Czech Republic
If you run a gambling game without a licence from the Ministry of Finance, you risk a fine of up to 50 million crowns, plus criminal liability for the individuals responsible. Operators also have to meet high capital requirements, post a security deposit, and follow strict player-protection rules. Find out what obligations gambling operators face and what to avoid so you don't lose your licence.
EU gambling licensing
There is no single gambling licence for the European Union; operators must obtain authorisation separately in each country where they want to operate. National markets differ in ownership checks, financial requirements, player verification, software standards and local presence. This article explains how to select target markets, what to prepare for licensing and which regulatory risks to assess before expansion.
AML and KYC Risks for Gambling Operators in the Czech Republic
Gambling operators must maintain effective anti-money laundering controls, including player verification, ongoing risk assessment and reporting of suspicious transactions. Written policies alone are not enough if procedures do not work in practice or cannot be evidenced. This article explains what operators need to set up, which records to retain and what to prepare for during a regulatory inspection.
Data Management in Gambling
Gambling operators must verify a player's identity and politically-exposed-person status before they can deposit money, which means processing sensitive personal data at scale. A GDPR setup mistake — such as a missing data-processing agreement — is itself a breach carrying a fine running into millions of euros, regardless of whether any data actually leaked. We explain how to set up player data protection without slowing down registration and play.
Gambling Geo-Blocking Compliance in 2026
An operator holding a Maltese licence may not actively target the Czech market without also holding a Czech licence — EU member states aren't required to mutually recognise each other's licences, even though the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU supports free movement of services. Without working geolocation filters and payment checks that block players from risky jurisdictions, you risk sanctions and having your website blocked by Czech authorities. We explain when geo-blocking is legally mandatory and how to set it up correctly on the technical side.
Verifying the identity of online gamblers
Identity verification for online gambling players must be set up so that the operator can reliably verify each player and continuously check whether they may participate in gambling. A one-off check at registration is not enough because verification duties continue while the account is used and transactions are monitored. This article explains how to structure the legal and technical verification process and which mistakes could put the licence at risk.
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