Czech Republic Casinos
Czech Republic Online Casinos
Online gambling in the Czech Republic has been legal since the passing of the country’s first online gambling law in 2012. Unlike some of its neighbours, this EU country hasn’t just regulated the internet betting world but done so in an overly excessive manner. There are over 1,160 gambling venues in the Czech Republic, over 2,175 betting shops, but hardly plenty of internet gambling sites for you to choose from.
Of course, for the purpose of this guide, you’re only going to be interested in the latter. So, where can you expect to play online? The Czech Republic plays host to all manner of betting sites, but most are illegal offshore casinos. Not all of these will be available to play without using a VPN to get around geo-blocks. Our team will help you break down your search to just the best and most exciting Czech casinos out there. Learn how to do that with the rest of our guide. To help you begin, though, check out the following top online casinos for Czech players.
Best Real Money Online Casinos for CZ Players
Is It Legal to Gamble Online in the Czech Republic?
Are you wondering, “is online casino gambling legal in the Czech Republic?” Well, we’re delighted to answer your question – yes, it is. However, the Czech authorities have not taken a very liberal approach akin to the way they handle land-based betting.
The Czech authorities have licensed over seventy-five operators. However, most of them belong to the three main online gambling operators (monopolies in all but name), including Sazka, Fortuna, Synot Tip, and Tipsport. The way that the legal gambling sites in the Czech Republic are run is nothing short of a shambles, and we’ll explain why.
Firstly, the array of legit CZ online casinos is minimal. Secondly, all those casinos are tied to physical land-based venues in the Czech Republic. None of these casinos is permitted to offer bonuses and promotions to Czech players. On top of that, Czech players must visit the land-based venues to sign up and verify their identity. You cannot do this at legit Czech casinos online. It must be a person-to-person process. This not only greatly inconveniences Czechs but actively drives them to offshore casinos. If that wasn’t bad enough, there are high taxes on winnings.
As of 2021, the Finance Ministry has launched a system whereby problem gamblers are excluded, a new gambling tax to hit operators, and tougher sign-up and promo laws. What does this mean for each type of gambling site? Let’s find out…
Online Casino
Legit Czech Republic online casinos will be those affiliated with a land-based gambling establishment in the country and licensed by the authorities. For the most part, this means state monopolies. The Czechs try to stop you from visiting offshore casinos by implementing blanket bans, fines (for the operators, not you) and more. They won’t technically punish you for visiting such sites, but it won’t be easy for you to do so.
Online Poker
Poker is legal in the Czech Republic. You can only play poker in licensed land-based casinos and at online sites. However, those online operators must once again have applied for a license, and there have been precious few of those handed out to sites that do not belong to one of the three main monopolies.
Online Sports Betting
Sports betting is legal in both online and land-based forms in the Czech Republic. A total of five bookmakers are authorised to offer sports betting options to players in the country. However, like casinos, they cannot offer promotions and bonuses, and you must register at a land-based venue first.
Online Lottery
The Czech national lottery has been around since 1948 and was the very first form of gambling or gambling game legalised in the country. It is run by Sazka. Several other lottery games can be played in the country, though, so it is not as though there is a firm monopoly in place. The Law on Lotteries and Other Like Games runs the rule over lottos in the Czech Republic.
Online Bingo
Bingo gameplay has been legal since 1990. However, there are no land-based bingo halls, with all gameplay taking place in land-based casinos or online casinos. Again, the same rules apply to bingo as apply to sports betting and casino gambling.
Czech Republic Gambling History
The Czech Republic has gradually opened itself up to gambling games over time. Join us as we chart the rise and falls of Czech gambling history below…
- 1948: The very first lottery game was run in Czechoslovakia.
- 1956: Sazka SA was created to run the lottery. All other forms of gambling are technically illegal in Czechoslavakia.
- 1990: Czechoslovakia splits, creating Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Sazka remains in charge of the Czech lotto, while Tipsport is formed to run sports betting services. Fortuna is established shortly afterwards, alongside Synot Tip. Soon the five operators we know from the present day are established, carving up the newly opened gambling industry for themselves.
- 2012: The Czech government (after rowing with the European Commission) launches a new gambling law – The Low on Lotteries and Other Like Games. It leaves much of the industry unregulated.
- 2014: A updated bill seeks to clarify the specifics around what gambling activities are deemed legal in the Czech Republic.
- 2016/2017: The Gambling Act of 2017 was passed. It codifies many of the previous laws. It creates licenses, regulates the industry, and demands that a blacklist is formed of unlicensed sites.
- 2019: Adjustments to gambling licenses are made, requiring all venues with slot machines or trivia quiz games to apply for one.
- 2020: The Finance Ministry forbids operators from offering promotions, while players are forced to register at land-based venues if they wish to wager online. The blacklist becomes stricter than ever.
- 2021: A new tax system is in place that is one of the heaviest in Europe on operators. Players are now taxed 15% on lotto wins that exceed a million Czech crowns. Winnings from every other game are taxed as income at 15%, irrespective of their value. Winning stakes (and only winning stakes) can be deducted as an expense, but not losing stakes. However, there are rumblings that the Czechs may do away with the face-to-face ID verification checks.
Is It Safe to Gamble at CZ Online Casino?
As you might expect, the heavily regulated industry makes safe online casinos in the Czech Republic a regular occurrence. Operators can’t drown players in promotions, and players must verify their ID in person at a land-based venue. However, for some, this is over-regulation. It is possible to find a wealth of top offshore Czech casinos on our page that offer you just as good if not better regulation, and thus, safety.
How to Choose the Best Online Casino?
If you want to get a good overview of what the industry offers, then might we suggest reading our online gambling reviews on Czech Republic casinos? These contain a mix of the most trusted offshore and international online casinos for CZ players and those licensed in the EU country.
Our team has poured hours of research and gameplay into each review, carefully analysing the pros and cons of each site. Our team looks at the bonuses, games and software, casino reputation, support, and payment methods and more besides. Allow us to touch on each of these topics in more detail briefly…
Casino Bonuses
You’re going to be hard-pressed to find casino bonuses at Czech licensed sites. They are forbidden under the country’s gambling laws. However, offshore, and international casinos have bonuses aplenty for players, so if you want to claim a top deal, you may need to look beyond locally licensed sites.
Games and Software
Czech online casinos typically feature games from over thirty to forty providers, so you won’t be short of top titles to play. Many of these are based on land-based classics, such as games from Novomatic. However, offshore casinos arguably have an even larger array of games, which is worth considering if a surplus of titles is important to you.
The Reputation of the Casino
The reputation of the online casino will factor into our reviews. For instance, if you want to play at an offshore casino, you need to trust that it has a reputable license, is regulated, and is audited in the same way as local Czech casinos. Moreover, it should have a few years of experience behind it, reassuring Czech players.
Casino Customer Support
Czech casinos will provide help in Czech, and so should any foreign sites that wish to cater to players. At the same time, support should also be available in English (for those who want it) and be provided via e-mail and live chat, if not FAQ and telephone services to boot.
Payment Methods
Czech players want to use the Czech crown (koruna) to deposit and wager. They will also want access to Czech-friendly payment methods – namely those that accept the CZK currency. Our team ensures that all our recommended sites fit the bill in this regard.
Online Casino Games Available for CZ Players
Any player heading to online casinos that accept CZ players should expect to see the following:
- New online casinos games for players in the Czech Republic should debut regularly.
- Any games supported should be RNG (random number generator) certified for fair play.
- Each casino should carry a mix of the best online casino games in the Czech Republic, and golden oldies, newer games, and live dealer titles.
- All games should be mobile-friendly and playable in a free-to-play demo mode.
Online Slots
The best online slots in the Czech Republic tend to come from Novomatic, and they have a sizeable presence when it comes to land-based slot machines in the Czech Republic. However, other providers can kit out each casino with several hundred games.
Online Blackjack
Playing blackjack online at Czech casinos with real money can see CZ players opt for live dealer or RNG (random number generator) versions of the game.
Online Roulette
Similarly, the best online casinos and roulette gambling sites in the Czech Republic should offer both live dealer and RNG roulette games, including American, European and French Roulette variants.
Live Dealer Games
If playing live casino roulette and blackjack games online in the Czech Republic doesn’t tick your boxes, you should also be able to find baccarat, table poker, dice, money wheel, lotto games and game show titles in live dealer format.
Other Online Casino Games
Other notable games at Czech casinos can include craps, dice games, video poker, scratch cards, keno, bingo, and instant win titles, amongst others.
Most Popular Casino Software in the Czech Republic
Rather than seeing a wealth of Microgaming casinos in the Czech Republic, or a selection of the very best NetEnt casinos in the Czech Republic you are far more likely to see Novomatic betting sites. However, all the following developers could appear at one casino over another:
- Microgaming
- NetEnt
- IGT
- WMS Gaming
- Barcrest
- Leander Games
- Lightning Box Games
- Scientific Games
- Genesis Gaming
- Quickspin
Banking Information for Czech Players
Can you deposit at a Czech Republic online casino with PayPal? What about making an online casino deposit in the Czech Republic using your VISA Debit card? Here is everything you need to know about deposits and withdrawals at Czech casinos:
- Czech sites should all accept the CZK currency.
- You may need to withdraw using the same option you deposited with where possible.
- No fees should be applied for deposits or withdrawals.
- Responsible gambling tools should allow you to put a cap on your deposits.
- Withdrawal times (and limits) should be reasonable compared to rival sites.
The following payment methods regularly appear at Czech casinos:
- American Express
- Bank Transfer
- EcoPayz
- MasterCard/Maestro
- Neteller
- PayPal (only at Czech licensed sites)
- Paysafecard
- Skrill
- VISA
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies are accepted at non-Czech licensed casinos. There are a few perks to using this option, including the anonymity it provides when you opt to play at an offshore site, its speedy withdrawal times, and generally low cost. In most casinos, offshore crypto casinos accepting Czechs prefer you to use BTC, BCH, ETH, DOGE, LTC or USDT as your cryptocurrency of choice.
Czech Republic Gambling Apps
The laws aren’t specific when it comes to mobile casino gambling in the Czech Republic. They don’t specify whether there must be a dedicated iOS and Android app or not. Therefore, most online internet casinos provide HTML5, browser-based gameplay with the need for dedicated online gambling apps in the Czech Republic. However, some sites (specifically sportsbooks) may still offer you an app-based experience.
Czech Republic Online Casino Bonuses & Promo Codes
If you fancy playing at the best bonus online casinos in the Czech Republic, you’re in for a bit of a shock. Czech licensed casinos are forbidden from offering bonuses and promotions to Czech nationals and residents. The only way you can claim these bonuses is to visit an offshore or international casino. These types of CZ online casino bonuses may require codes to activate them, and you can typically find these on the promotions page at those casinos. Moreover, the terms and conditions involved (such as wagering requirements) can vary wildly from site to site.
No Deposit Bonuses
If you fancy getting your hands on no deposit casino bonuses in the Czech Republic, you’re going to need to head to offshore Czech Republic no deposit casinos. This is the only way you can pocket a handful of free spins or a small sum of real money to splash on whatever you see fit.
Deposit Match
A conventional first deposit bonus at a casino in the Czech Republic is not common. The gambling law forbids it. Therefore, you’ll need to visit offshore Czech Republic online casinos with low deposit terms to make the most of this bonus. It should work in the same way as the old Czech-based bonuses did, in that you receive a sum of bonus cash based on the amount you deposit.
Free Spins
As you’ve seen in the sections above, joining an online casino to claim a free sign-up bonus with no deposit required is not easy for CZ players. Only offshore, international, and foreign sites can offer them. Free spins are available as an in-game bonus, but in terms of loyalty rewards, you’re going to have to venture offshore to get your share of the spoils.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses, much like match deposit bonuses and welcome offers, cannot be claimed at Czech licensed casinos. These deposit deals can only be found when you visit international sites. Fortunately, our recommended casinos list is filled with top domains who are ready to play ball.
FAQs
Get help on the Czech Republic’s online casinos and obtain advice about where to play with our FAQ guide below:
