Bures: Illegal Online Betting Is an Issue Affecting All Countries

Illegal online betting, player protection and the growing use of artificial intelligence are among the main issues facing European regulators. Speaking to iGamingExpress, Tomas Bures described how the Czech betting market has changed, the impact of recent regulatory reforms, and the effectiveness of measures such as website blocking and the Excluded Persons Register.

According to Bures, online betting was legalized in the Czech Republic in 2017, and since then players have increasingly turned to the online environment. This trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. When halls and casinos were closed, many players moved online, and this shift happened alongside an increase in illegal online betting. The number of licensed operators has remained at around 50 since 2020. According to Bures, the Excluded Persons Register introduced in 2020 now includes about 300,000 people, of whom around 80,000 registered voluntarily.

Bures said that the biggest problem facing regulators today is illegal online betting. He said illegal operators have begun using artificial intelligence to quickly copy legitimate sites and imitate brands. Noting that these methods make it easier to mislead players, Bures said keeping pace with these rapidly developing technologies and maintaining effective oversight is a significant challenge.

The most comprehensive change to Czech betting legislation took effect in 2024. The reform simplified the licensing process, introduced a Panic Button, made mandatory breaks compulsory for certain types of betting, and reorganized the self-limitation tools available to players. The reform also paved the way for live dealer games to be offered and improved mechanisms for blocking illegal online betting.

Bures explained that since 2024, sites that are accessible in the Czech Republic and offer unauthorized betting can be blocked, and that this scope has been extended to affiliate marketing sites that direct players to illegal platforms, as well as to mobile and other apps. He said licensed operators have implemented these changes without significant difficulty. Bures also stressed the importance of international cooperation ahead of SiGMA Rome.