How to Keep Your Gambling Under Control at Chance

Responsible gambling means approaching play consciously and staying in control of it. The aim is to reduce the risks that excessive gambling brings and to prevent addiction from taking hold.

Under §§ 13 to 16 of zákon č. 186/2016 Sb., you can expect an operator such as CHANCE a.s. to provide:

• tools for restricting both your spending and the time you spend playing,
• clear guidance on the risks of gambling,
• information on how self-exclusion works,
• measures that keep minors from gambling.

Your part is to keep track of your own behaviour and to take warning signs seriously before they grow into a problem.

A gambling problem rarely arrives overnight; it tends to creep in gradually. Take notice if any of the following applies to you:

• Money: you spend more than you set for yourself, borrow to gamble or try to win back a loss with another bet (so-called chasing losses).
• Escalation: you gamble more and more often, or for bigger amounts.
• Responsibilities: you put off work, study or family because of gambling.
• Consequences: you carry on playing even though you already have debts or conflicts.
• Secrecy: you hide from the people close to you how much and how often you gamble.
• Mind and health: without gambling you feel restless, irritable or anxious, and your mental or physical health is suffering because of it.

If you notice these signs in yourself or in someone close to you, turn to the prevention tools or contact professionals.

Under zákon č. 186/2016 Sb., Chance offers players several ways to restrict their gambling. All of them are available in the user account, for every registered player.

Financial limits are the foundation. A deposit limit determines how much money can be paid into the gaming account per day, week or month; once it is used up, further deposits are blocked until the period ends. The bet and loss limit works in a similar way: it tracks the total stakes or net loss over a chosen time and stops further play once the threshold is reached.

Time is covered by the time limit, which is the longest period a player may spend gambling per day or week, and by the reality check, which regularly reminds the player how long the session has lasted. Anyone who needs a pause can choose a time-out of 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days. During that time it is not possible to log in or play, and afterwards the account is active again.

Limits are set, reduced and cancelled directly in the account. An increase is only possible after a protection period of at least 24 hours.

The panic button is one of the tools that operators of internet gambling and gaming halls have had to offer since 1 July 2024; the obligation is governed by § 16bb of zákon č. 186/2016 Sb. The button forms part of the user interface and serves all registered players.

Once it is activated, the following applies: the player is immediately and temporarily excluded from all gambling for 48 hours, the exclusion automatically extends to all the operator's online platforms, and the player is given the chance to apply for a place in the Register of Excluded Persons (RVO).

Do you want to take a longer break from gambling, or stop altogether? Under § 16 and § 16b of zákon č. 186/2016 Sb., you may ask the operator to exclude you from taking part in gambling, either temporarily or permanently.

There are two ways to submit the request: in your user account, or through the gambling operator. An RVO entry made as a result applies to all operators in the Czech Republic, and it can be deleted one year after it was made at the earliest.

An application for entry in the Register of Excluded Persons (RVO) can take several forms:

• filing it in person at a Czech POINT contact point,
• confirming the request offered after the panic button is activated,
• submitting it in the user account with the gambling operator,
• writing to the Ministry of Finance (Ministerstvo financí ČR) through its data box.

The Ministry of Finance keeps the register under zákon č. 186/2016 Sb. It enters not only those who request exclusion but also people excluded by law, for instance anyone facing enforcement or insolvency proceedings and people drawing certain benefits. Everyone listed is unable to gamble with licensed operators in the Czech Republic.

1. Gambling in the Czech Republic is available exclusively to people aged 18 and over (zákon č. 186/2016 Sb.).
2. The operator must verify the age and identity of everyone who wants to play, for example via BankID or another method.
3. Minors are not allowed to gamble; this is checked at registration and when winnings are paid out.

Please note: this is a rough aid and does not replace a diagnosis from a professional. The questions are derived from the PGSI questionnaire (Problem Gambling Severity Index).

• Do you return to gambling to catch up on what you lost?
• Do you often spend more on gambling than you wanted to?
• Have you borrowed so that you could keep playing?
• Have you ever thought that you play too much and should cut down?
• Have you neglected a duty or a relationship because of gambling?
• Do you blame yourself for gambling?
• Have people around you noticed that you have difficulties with gambling?

Did you answer yes to more than one question? Then we recommend using the prevention tools or seeking professional help.

• Free, anonymous help by phone: National Helpline for Addiction, 800 350 000.
• Specialist workplace: Clinic of Addictology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, information on adiktologie.cz.
• Further professional help: Společnost Podané ruce, podaneruce.cz.

You can turn to all of these places if gambling is ceasing to be fun. They help professionally and with respect for your privacy.

Spotted something unclear on this page, or looking for additional details? You can write to the editors at contact@chance-recenze.cz.

• 18+: only people aged 18 or over may gamble in the Czech Republic.
• Official warning text: taking part in gambling may result in addiction (Ministerstvo financí ČR).