Czech customs authorities carried out a nationwide operation code-named BOŽENA, targeting potential violations of the Gambling Act at casinos.
According to a statement from customs spokesperson Vladimíra Malovíková, authorities conducted 45 inspections and identified suspected violations in 30 of them.
The customs officials also inspected individuals present in the establishments. Out of the 360 individuals checked, 23 were listed in the Register of Excluded Persons (RVO), a database of individuals barred from gambling due to insolvency, debt, or social welfare status. One individual was found to be under the age of 18.
The inspections highlighted persistent problems with so-called “quasi-casinos” that fail to meet legal requirements for live gaming, including the mandatory presence of a croupier at each table. Additional violations reportedly included illegal advertising and inadequate player identification procedures.
The operation followed a similar inspection effort named ANEŽKA last September. Authorities noted some improvements, particularly a drop in violations related to the “panic button” self-exclusion system, which was down to three cases from 19 in the previous round.
The highest number of infractions was recorded in the Liberec, South Bohemian, Ústí nad Labem, and Hradec Králové regions. Customs officials said final assessments are still underway, with further violations possibly emerging after analysis of surveillance footage and operational records.
Casino operators found in breach of the Gambling Act could face fines of up to CZK 50 million and bans from operating for up to two years.
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