Blocking illegal sites

1) Legal framework

• Domain blocking by Internet service providers (ISPs);
• Blocking payment transactions to/from this operator by banks and fintech companies;
• Prohibition of advertising and affiliate marketing in the Czech media space.

This system covers not only casinos, but also online bookmakers, poker rooms, bingo and lottery sites if they have not been licensed in the Czech Republic.

2) Locking mechanism

1. Monitoring - a special unit of the Ministry of Finance monitors sites offering gambling in the Czech Republic without permission.

2. Warning - a notice is sent to the site owner demanding to terminate the activity within the established period (usually 15 days).

3. Entering into the register - if there is no reaction, the resource is included in the official register of prohibited domains.

4. Technical blocking - communication providers are required to block access to the specified resource within 24 hours after notification.

5. Financial blocking - banks and payment systems block transfers associated with this operator.

Execution control is entrusted to the Department of Gambling Supervision, which is part of the Ministry of Finance.

3) Interaction with ISPs and banks

All providers operating in the Czech Republic are required to ensure DNS blocking of illegal domains. Failure to do so could result in large fines (up to CZK 500,000) and court sanctions.

Banking institutions and electronic payment services (including PayPal and Revolut) receive regular notifications about blocked domains, which prevents transfers of funds to the accounts of unlicensed operators.

4) Results and efficacy

• More than 2,000 illegal sites blocked;
• The volume of "shadow" turnover of online gambling has decreased;
• Tax revenues from licensed operators increased;
• The level of player confidence in legal platforms has increased.

The system works especially effectively against foreign operators targeting Czech users without a local license.

5) Responsibility of players and intermediaries

While the primary responsibility falls on operators, players can also be punished for engaging in illegal gambling. The fine can reach up to CZK 500,000.

Advertising agencies, affiliates and bloggers promoting unlicensed brands are administratively liable and risk being sanctioned.

6) Technological aspects and system development

• DNS filtering, IP blocking, monitoring of alternative domains and mirrors.

Since 2024, AI tools are being tested to automatically detect mirrors and new domain zones that are used by illegal operators to bypass blocking.

In addition, transactional pattern analysis is being actively introduced to identify suspicious routes between users and anonymous crypto payments associated with unlicensed sites.

7) International cooperation

The Czech Republic participates in European cybersecurity initiatives and the fight against illegal gambling, exchanging data with regulators in Malta, Germany, Poland and Slovakia. This helps identify cross-border schemes and restrict advertising of unlicensed brands through international affiliate networks.

8) Forecast to 2030

Further strengthening of technical blocking measures is expected, especially with regard to mobile applications and crypto platforms. In the future, it is possible to integrate blockchain tracking into the transaction monitoring system and joint EU registries, combining lists of illegal sites of several countries.

• Blocking illegal sites in the Czech Republic is not just a censorship tool, but part of a comprehensive state strategy to form an honest and sustainable gambling market. The combination of legal rigor, technological supervision and cooperation with financial institutions makes the Czech system one of the most reliable and modern in Europe.