A total ban on gaming machines has been in place in Prague since 1 January 2024. The Prague City Council passed a law to this effect about four years ago. But what is the reason for the total ban on slot machines in the Czech capital?

All gaming machine licences in Prague have now expired. This means that mechanical, electromechanical and electronic slot machines will no longer be allowed to operate throughout the city from 1 January 2024. Instead, Prague players will have to switch to online slots, which will still be allowed. As a result, online casinos are expected to become very popular in the Czech Republic. So far, the ban on slot machines has only affected the Czech metropolis on the Vltava River, with a population of more than 1.35 million.

Why is Prague banning all slot machines?

The Prague City Council already passed a law banning slot machines in 2020. However, there was a transitional period during which licences issued in the past remained valid - but this has finally come to an end since 1 January 2024. Since then, all licences have been invalid and there is a strict ban on slot machines in the city.

Politicians announced at the time that the aim of the project was to improve player protection. In particular, the negative effects of gambling on addiction were to be minimised.

While slot machines are now completely banned in Prague, table and card games can still be played in the casinos. Residents and visitors to the Czech capital can at least still play poker, roulette and blackjack in the casino. For virtual slot machines, however, they will have to find an alternative on the Internet.

Police authorities crack down on infringements

Just a few weeks after the new gambling laws came into effect, the Prague Police Department conducted a compliance check. Among other things, the authorities discovered 16 unlicensed gaming machines in Prague, confiscated cash and filed charges. At the end of March, GambleJoe reported on the rise of illegal gaming machines in Germany.

Image source: https://pixabay.com/de/photos/alt-architektur-gebäude-hauptstadt-5302626/

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