On the occasion of the ongoing European Football Championship, the Institute for Gambling Regulation warns against the dangers of participating in illegal online sports betting.
The European Football Championship is one of the most-watched tournaments in the world. The attractiveness of the tournament increases the activity not only of occasional bettors but also of illegal operators offering odds bets online.
Here are a few basic tips to avoid being scammed when betting. Fraudsters make up nearly a third of the gambling market, and when searching on Google, you will encounter their ads in half of the cases. Especially during major sports championships, scammers become more active. As the number of bettors increases, so do the ads luring them with the “best” odds, “astronomical” bonuses, and “guaranteed” earnings. Such certainty does not exist in the world of gambling. None of us wants to lose sensitive information, let alone our life savings.
Illegal offers do not meet the legally required measures to protect players from potential gambling addiction and, on the contrary, allow children and adolescents to play.
Playing with illegal operators without responsible gambling measures presents a significant risk of developing gambling addiction. Anyone interested in betting should first use the detailed information on the website Zodpovednehrani.cz. There, you will find all the essential information on how to properly use the tools offered by legal operators for responsible gambling.
How Can Players Recognize Legal Operators?
Distinguishing an illegal online bookmaker from a licensed one can be challenging as they may look similar at first glance. First, look for a Czech license issued by the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, often placed in the website’s footer. Illegal operators often display a foreign license from tax havens instead. However, some might even falsely display the Ministry of Finance logo without actually holding a license. Therefore, the best way to verify a site is to check the list of legal operators in the Ministry of Finance’s whitelist.
Legal Sports Betting Offers Are Under Strict Supervision by the Customs Administration and the Ministry of Finance
Receiving a Ministry of Finance license is not automatic; operators obtain it only after a thorough check—ranging from security measures and personal data protection to the fairness of the software used in individual games. Illegal operators, who would likely never be authorized to operate in the Czech Republic, do not even attempt this rigorous process.
