Social aspects: control and responsible play programs

1) Who is responsible for control

Coordination is carried out by the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic. In his area of ​ ​ responsibility - maintaining a register of excluded persons, a list of unlicensed Internet games, an IT system for monitoring gambling and making decisions on including sites in the block list.

2) RVO: register of excluded persons - "central switch"

What it is: The state-owned Rejstřík vyloučených osob (RVO) is a registry invisible to the public that restricts access to gambling to people at risk or voluntarily asking for self-exclusion. Operators are required to check each player by RVO upon registration and entry.

When and how they launched: the pilot launch and connection of operators took place in September 2020 through the state data exchange interface.

Who gets into RVO and how: the player can apply for a ban on participation himself, and there is also automatic inclusion according to legal criteria (vulnerable categories/financial pressure). Details and forms are posted with the Ministry of Finance; the help pages of Sazka operators and others further explain the mechanism.

Why it is needed: the goal is to protect the player and his environment from the negative consequences of involvement; RVO is not a public "stigma," but a tool for protecting health and family budgets.

3) "Panic button" and built-in restrictions for operators

From July 1, 2024, online operators in the Czech Republic are required to provide Panic Button in the player's office - instant self-blocking of participation for 48 hours without bureaucracy. This complements the standard limits and increases the ambulance inside the product.

• Limits of deposits/expenses, session time, number/size of rates.
• Reality check - reminders about the duration of the session and the results.
• Pauses and timeouts, including short-term ones.
• Clear rules for bonuses and RTP in the game help.
• The legal framework is set by Law No. 186/2016 (Gambling Act) and guidelines for licensed operators.

4) KYC/AML: Protecting minors and finances

All licensed platforms are required to identify individuals and ages, check payment tools, and track suspicious transactions. This reduces the risks of underage access, fraud and money laundering; checks are integrated into state gambling IPs.

5) Block list of illegal sites and payment restrictions

The ministry maintains a list of unlicensed Internet games: such sites are entered in the register and blocked at the level of communication providers; financial payments in their favor are limited. It is a defensive "perimeter" to keep players in a legal and safe sector.

6) National Harm Reduction Strategy

The Czech National Strategy for Prevention and Harm Reduction 2019-2027 covers, among other things, pathological gambling behavior and dependence on digital technologies. This is a "supra-industry" document of the government - from prevention and education to rehabilitation and research.

7) Where to get help: hotlines and advice

Národní linka pro odvykání hraní - free national line on problem gambling/digital behavior: 800 350 000 (Mon-Fri 10: 00-18: 00), online resources and chats. Relatives can also apply.

Current hotlines/chats and crisis contacts are collected in specialized directories ("gambling" for the Czech Republic).

8) Ethical marketing: no pressure or deception

In the Czech Republic, gambling advertising is allowed only for licensed operators and is required to contain 18 + and RG disclaimers. Misleading language ("no risk," "guaranteed gain") and any appeals to minors/vulnerable groups are prohibited; liability also applies to affiliates. This reduces the risk of involving "untrained" players. (Enforcement - through the Ministry of Finance and the block list.)

9) Practice for player and family: short checklist

1. Set up limits before the first deposit; Enable time reminders.

2. Know your "red" rule: stop loss/wine cap and pause time.

3. Keep one confirmed payment method; do not take credits "for the game."

4. At the first sign of loss of control, press Panic Button or issue self-exclusion (RVO).

• Conversation - no charges; suggest specific steps: a call to the hotline, a visit to a specialist.
• If necessary, you will help arrange a temporary pause from the operator and an RVO consultation.

10) What is important to the operator and sites

Reliable integration with RVO/state-IS, correct KYC procedures and logging of RG events.

Visible UX RG elements: pause button, 1-2 click limits, non-aggressive banners.

"Clean" advertising channels and affiliate control: no "risk-free" promises, only official domains.

1. Public infrastructure (RVO, block list, gambling IP), 2. operators' product tools (limits, reality-check, panic-button), 3. social support (national strategy, hotlines).

If excitement begins to interfere with life, the first step is simple: 800 350 000 (national line) or instant Panic Button in your personal account. A timely pause and seeking help is a strength, not a weakness.