written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
14 Sep 2020
Journalist, Editorial Department
Prague authorities have approved a new regulation that will impose a complete ban on the placement and use of gaming machines in the city starting January 1, 2021. Operators in the Czech capital will be allowed to phase out their entire fleet of machines over three stages until their licenses expire.
Opposition parties have criticized the measure, arguing that it will result in significant losses in tax revenue for the city. Last year alone, representatives from Prague's gambling industry contributed 770 million crowns to the municipal budget, with approximately 440 million of that amount coming from taxes on the gaming machines that will be banned.
About half of these funds are distributed among various city districts based on population size, supporting initiatives in sports, culture, education, and social programs.
Some local activists have called for the preservation of gaming machines in certain areas, such as hotel casinos. However, officials have stated that this could violate Czech competition laws.
It is worth noting that a Ukrainian casino license ranks among the five most expensive in the world.
