Minister Stehlíková: Czech towns want stricter gambling laws

Over 80 percent of Czech towns would like to implement more stringent gambling regulations, found a survey commissioned by the Minister for Minorities and Human Rights Džamila Stehlíková. Over 85 percent of towns polled said that the negative effects of gambling - such as crime - cost the municipality more than the profits generated through gambling tax. Minister Stehlíková’s poll comes weeks before a vote on new gambling laws. Deputies are set to discuss whether internet and mobile phone gambling should be outlawed, as well as whether casinos should be banned from opening near schools. According to Finance Ministry data, each adult Czech spends on average 12,900 crowns (852 USD) on gambling each year. There are thought to be around 100,000 gambling addicts in the Czech Republic.

Author: Rosie Johnston