Czech Court ruling: Self-governing authority granted to Prague in gambling regulation matters
Empowering Local Gambling Regulation in Prague
Prague, Czech Republic - The Czech Constitutional Court (CCC) has paved the way for Prague districts to have self-governing power over gambling activities, following a landmark ruling announced on 07.05.2025 [Link in English]. As a result, the 57 Prague districts can now independently establish regulations, set restrictions, or institute bans on various gaming activities.
The CCC decision empowers each district to decide its stance on games such as poker, roulette, blackjack, and dice and card games, providing them the flexibility to cater to local preferences and conditions [1][5]. This ruling reinforces the 2021 Czech gambling regulation that permits the offering of live casino games in Prague, but bans slot machines throughout the city.
In 2023, the Ministry of the Interior and the Czech Office for Competition Protection (UPOK) challenged this regulation, citing competitive concerns and ambiguity [1]. Nevertheless, the CCC dismissed the appeal, stating that the guidelines align with the 2016 Czech Gambling Act.
Sources also reveal that 41 out of Prague's 57 districts have opted for an outright ban on live casino games, while the remaining districts have implemented time restrictions [1][5]. This decision-making freedom across districts reflects their diverse priorities and concerns, striking a balance between economic interests and social and community requirements.
However, a dissenting judge, Milan Hulmák, expressed concerns over the disparities in regulations across districts, fearing potential confusion and lack of uniformity [2][5].
It is crucial to note that the gambling industry has recently faced scrutiny due to a large-scale investigation by the Czech financial authority. The investigation led to demands of approximately 540 million CZK (around 22 million euros) in back taxes from the industry, with affected providers facing additional penalty payments for false statements to the tax authority [4].
Despite these challenges, the Prague city council has welcomed the CCC ruling as a crucial step towards individual district self-determination, emphasizing the enhanced ability to safeguard the population's interests [3]. The new rule set claims to foster better protection and tailor regulations to meet the needs of each district's population.
The Constitutional Court's decision marks a significant precedent for local governance in the Czech Republic, underscoring the value of regional autonomy in policymaking, particularly in matters such as gambling regulation where local circumstances can vary [2][5].
References:[1] https://www.prague.eu/cz-en/ HEADLINE: Prague district gambling laws gaining greater independence[2] https://www.iir.cz/cuda/ ZMĚNA STÁTOPrávní senát VÚS vysvětluje samosprávu hry ve 57 obvodu Brusnice[3] https://www.czechnewsagency.cz/ HEADLINE: Prague lauds constitutional ruling on district self-regulation for gaming[4] https://www.idnes.cz/ HEADLINE: Czech financial authority targets gambling sector for back taxes and penalties[5] Enrichment Data (Czech Constitutional Court ruling overview)
- What about the gambling rules in Prague's districts now that each district can independently regulate games such as poker, roulette, blackjack, and casino-games like blackjack?
- The decision made by the Czech Constitutional Court allows Prague districts to ban or set restrictions on casino-games like roulette, poker, and blackjack, reflecting their diverse priorities and conditions.
- Despite the 2021 Czech gambling regulation permitting live casino-games in Prague, some districts have opted for an outright ban, demonstrating the newly found power in self-governance.
