In the Czech Republic, CZK 759.3 billion was spent by the people gambling last year, marking a significant increase of 44.2% compared to the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by the rising popularity of technical games, with the amount of money wagered in these games experiencing a notable surge. According to data from the General Financial Directorate, the volume of winnings paid out also saw a substantial rise of 44.8%, reaching CZK 705.5 billion in comparison to 2021.
Technical games, particularly slot machines, have consistently dominated the gambling scene, accounting for over three-quarters of all bets placed. The total amount wagered on slot machines amounted to CZK 586.1 billion last year, representing a year-on-year increase of 56.5%. Interestingly, there has been a shift in gambling habits, as more players have moved from traditional gambling halls to online platforms. In 2019, the proportion of money wagered online was 25.9%, but in the year under review, it rose significantly to 56.8%.
Fixed-odds betting, the second-largest category in terms of money wagered, reached CZK 118.8 billion. However, the growth rate in this area was slower compared to technical games, with a modest 10.1% increase year-on-year. Sports betting contributed to 15.6% of the total volume of wagers, a decline of five percentage points from the previous year.
The volume of bets in live games, including roulette, craps, and poker, increased by 41.7% year-on-year to CZK 32.9 billion, constituting 4.3% of the overall bets. Lotteries, such as Sportka or scratchcards, also saw an increase of 3.6% from 2021, with a total of CZK 21.5 billion wagered. Other categories, like bingo, raffles, or small-scale tournaments, experienced a decline of 12.8% compared to the previous year, with around 8.6 million crowns spent.
Jiří Paták, founder of the Patron Go consultancy, shared insights from their data, indicating that young people under 30 are significant contributors to the betting and gambling industry. According to their findings from a sample of 3,000 young Czechs, the average person in this age group placed 85 bets and participated in gambling activities 58 times last year. On average, they placed seven bets and engaged in gambling five times per month, resulting in a monthly spending of CZK 2,443 for betting and CZK 1,243 for gambling. Paták also warned that some banks might refuse mortgages to individuals who engage in regular gambling activities.
