Prague gets green light to enforce district-level gambling rules
The Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic has ruled that the city of Prague can set its own rules on gambling. The decision allows Prague to continue banning slot machines and let each of its 57 districts decide how to regulate live gambling games like poker and roulette.
In 2021, Prague had established a ‘city ordinance’ banning all technical games, including slot machines, across the city. Live 바카라 games were still allowed, but each district could choose whether to ban them or set time limits. Out of 57 districts, 41 decided to ban live games completely, while others allowed them with restrictions.
The Ministry of the Interior and the Czech competition authority opposed these local rules. They said the system was unfair to gambling businesses, created confusion, and broke national laws. They called for a single gambling policy for the whole city and suspended Prague’s ordinance.
Court lifts suspension and supports local control
Now, the Constitutional Court has lifted that suspension. It said Prague has the legal right to allow districts to make their own gambling rules. The court found that the city’s actions were not discriminatory and were allowed under Czech law.
Justice Pavel Šámal said the local regulations were legitimate and reasonable. The court also said the city had valid reasons to treat gambling operators differently in each district.
One judge, Milan Hulmák, disagreed with the court’s decision. He said there was no clear reason for the differences in gambling rules between districts and called the system confusing.
Concerns for gambling businesses
The Czech Competition Authority warned that different rules in each district will make things harder for gambling companies. Businesses with 바카라s in more than one area will have to follow separate rules, which could increase their costs and make compliance more difficult.
The ruling may encourage other cities and provinces in the Czech Republic to make their own gambling rules. The country has 14 provinces that could now try to apply similar district-level regulations.
Tax evasion found in gambling sector
Earlier in February this year, the Czech Financial Administration reported major tax evasion by gambling businesses. A tax audit of gambling companies from 2021 to 2022 recovered over CZK 540 million (about €22 million). This included CZK 340 million in extra taxes and other unpaid amounts.
The agency used new data analysis tools to detect suspicious financial activity and unusual player behaviour at 바카라s.
Prague defends its policy
The Prague City Council has managed to weather strong opposition from national authorities, defending its right to regulate gambling locally. It said standard regulations do not work the same way in every area, and that local rules are needed to address problems like gambling addiction and crime.
The court agreed that dividing the city into districts for gambling rules was not random and said the policy was necessary to meet regulatory goals.
