The Finance Ministry plans to set rules that would legalize internet sports betting in time for this year\’s World Cup.
The country currently does not allow any form of online gambling, including casinos, poker and sports betting. Czechs can place their bets at regular casinos and high-street betting shops.
The reason for the rush to allow online sports betting is simple: the Czech Government wants to cash in on tax revenue during what is arguably the world\’s largest sporting and betting event, the soccer World Cup.
“The World Cup is so big an event that even those who never bet will do so then,” said FrantiÅ¡ek Trantina, Marketing Director of Fortuna, a Czech bookomaker. “There\’s going to be a tremendous wave of interest in this tournament, and even if it will fade away a bit after the last match, the gaming companies want to get the most from it.”
The new regulations would still prohibit online casinos and could ban foreign online gaming companies from having Czech customers.
“Anything offering any difference is better than what the situation looks like today,” said Zdeněk Zikmund, spokesman for Sazka, the country\’s largest gambling company.
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