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Contrasting trends in 2017 Czech gaming market figures
The 2017 Czech market figures were published last week, revealing some contrasting trends.
It was surprising to an overall minimal revenue gain in the gaming market, despite the strong rise in online gambling revenue of over 50 per cent.
Czech Ministry of Finance figures for 2017 indicated total revenues of CZK39.8b (US$1.77b), a gain of 1.1 per cent from 2016 in the face of overall spending on gambling rising 14.1 per cent to CZK224b.
The gains in online gaming nonetheless did not translate to overall gains for the Czech Republic, which began allowing and regulating iGaming in the country with the revision of the country’s gambling act in 2016.
The Online Contribution
The fact is online gambling jumped 56 per cent year-on-year to CZK8.3b ($370m), responsible for a contribution of more than one-fifth of the overall gaming market in the Czech Republic.
The vertical contributing most heavily was fixed-odds sports betting, which saw a total rise in 217 of nearly CZK1b to reach just short of CZK6.2b.
The next largest contributor on the pole for 2017 was online casino, which brought in just over CZK2b to the Czech market, with live casino third at a CZK120m contribution.
Online lotteries brought in CZK276m, compared to a decline in the contribution of land-based lotteries down CZK500m to CZK6.1b.
Conflicting Disincentive
The relative lack of gains from the overall sector may have to do in large part to some changes made in the Czech market structure that took effect January 1st of 2017. The updates imposed stiff taxes on foreign licensees, resulting in many operator withdrawals who were discouraged by new individual vertical taxes of 23 per cent on sports betting, and 35 per cent for slots, compounded by a 19 per cent corporate tax and further new restrictions on online bonus offers.
Outlook
The Czech government is claiming a healthy purge of up to 90 per cent of illegal operators, but if they want to keep this purge from claiming more legitimate licenced operators on the ledger, they will have to find a way to ease restrictions on foreign operators to add more revenues and streams to the overall till. Let’s hope the operators that began trickling back at the end of 2017 have found more hospitable conditions in 2018.
Source: onlinecasinoreports.com
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

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Amusnet Releases 40 Lucky Wilds Hot
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Amusnet has released its latest slot game – 40 Lucky Wilds Hot. This sizzling online slot turns the temperature up with classic charm, vibrant symbols, and electrifying winning potential.
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The post Amusnet Releases 40 Lucky Wilds Hot appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Pamela Klockenbrink Becomes the New Managing Director of Merkur Casino
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Pamela Klockenbrink has become the new Managing Director of Merkur Casino GmbH. This subsidiary of the Merkur Group operates over 700 gaming venues in Germany and Europe. Pamela Klockenbrink succeeds Meik Sellenriek, who was appointed to the Executive Board of Merkur.com AG on January 1, 2025, and is now handing over his current management responsibilities to new hands. Together with Benjamin Bredenkamp, who will remain part of the management team, the 52-year-old will lead the company’s fortunes in the future.
With Pamela Klockenbrink, Merkur Casino is strengthening its leadership team from within its own ranks. The Bad Oeynhausen native began her career at Merkur in May 2015 as coordinator of national and international controlling at Merkur Casino. Most recently, Klockenbrink served for almost ten years as Head of Controlling at the Merkur subsidiary. Before joining the group, she shaped the finance and accounting departments of international corporations in various management positions, leading projects in the areas of international accounting and international taxation, among others.
Meik Sellenriek, Executive Board Member for Merkur Operations at Merkur.com AG, said: “We are delighted to have recruited Pamela Klockenbrink as our new Managing Director. Thanks to her many years of service with the company, she has a considerable repertoire of in-depth industry knowledge. This diverse experience will form the foundation for successfully developing Merkur Casino and leading it into a promising future.”
Pamela Klockenbrink said: “I greatly appreciate the trust placed in me by being appointed to the management team. My goal is to play a key role in shaping and further driving the successful development of Merkur Casino GmbH together with my colleague Benjamin Bredenkamp and our dedicated team.”
The post Pamela Klockenbrink Becomes the New Managing Director of Merkur Casino appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released draft rules for the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which was introduced back in August.
The draft outlines how online games will be classified and registered, what formats are permitted, and the powers of the proposed Online Gaming Authority of India. It also specifies how registrations can be suspended or cancelled, how grievances will be addressed, and what penalties will apply for violations.
The ministry has invited public feedback on the draft, asking stakeholders to send comments on each rule by October 31.
The Act aims to draw a clear line between gaming and gambling. Passed in August, it bans online money games while supporting esports and “social gaming” (regular video games) as legitimate forms of entertainment.
Introduced by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on August 20 in the Lok Sabha, the Bill cleared the Rajya Sabha the next day and received presidential assent by August 22.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “major decision,” saying, “Gaming is not bad, gambling is. They call it gaming, but it becomes gambling.” He added that India should strengthen its global position in gaming and capture a larger share of the market.
The post Indian Government Releases Draft Rules for Online Gaming Act 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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