Online gambling legalised in Czech Republic
After months of anticipation – it looks as if the new year will at last see legalised online gambling in the Czech Republic. Radio Praha reports that after years of lobbying and promises to prevent minors from betting on their websites, the country’s five biggest bookies will soon receive permits from the Finance Ministry to introduce online gambling. One of those firms is believed to be Fortuna – and company exec Tomas Bahnik explained why the decision was so important for the firms. He told the radio station’s reporter: *We are sad and bitter that foreign online betting companies are allowed to operate in the Czech Republic without any control. There is no legal restriction. So basically they operate in this country illegally. So we want to have the same opportunities as foreign companies.* (Bahnik claimed that local betting companies could be losing out on several hundred million a year to foreign companies offering Internet gambling from outside the Czech Republic, but making no contribution to taxes or employment within the Republic). The betting company executive said that the action date for the issue of the licenses was January 5 2009, and that those companies in line to receive licenses have been preparing their operations and will be ready to launch on that date. 
(Bahnik added that the preparedness of local companies to comply with such strict regulation and precautions to ensure the safety of gamblers was one of the main reasons that persuaded government to agree to a licensing and regulatory system).