The last five years have brought significant changes to the casino market. The change in legislation from 2024 also has an impact on this. At Affilmaster, we are dedicated to a detailed examination of the numbers and profitability of individual game types over the past few years. How did online casinos perform in Czech republic from 2020 to 2024?

How has player behaviour changed?

The entry of new games into the market, the Covid pandemic and the changes to the Gambling Act… All of this has had an impact on player behaviour. Some events have a direct impact – for example, the shift from physical gaming to online gaming during the pandemic. Other changes affect the market itself and players react to these changes.

Statistics from the Ministry of Finance confirm the increase in problem gambling – more and more people are being registered in the Register of Excluded Persons and the amount of money lost in gambling is increasing. This has created a demand for protective tools such as panic buttons or the ban on risky bonuses that contribute to risky gambling.

The gambling market is growing

Despite all the set limits, the online casino market is growing. The annual increase is several percent, depending on the type of game. The largest increase was recorded by online lotteries and slot machines. In person odds betting is facing a loss of margin (but not profitability) – in short, more people are betting online.

Online slot machines earn the most. The average profit of casinos from online slot machines is 13 billion CZK per year. In addition, further growth is expected for online slot machines. Although this is the lowest in the last five years – the reason is the end of the pandemic, during which online slot machines increased sharply.

Year-on-year increase in profit from technical online games

Land-based slot machines are also successful. Over the past five years, players have wagered over CZK 1 trillion on them. However, one can speculate on a gradual decline here due to tightening conditions and ever-increasing operating costs.

Average annual gambling profits from 2020 to 2024

Lottery7 133 093 800 CZK
Online lottery2 216 179 200 CZK
Betting847 491 600 CZK
Online betting11 053 263 000 CZK
Slot machines13 139 767 200 CZK
Slot machines online13 129 587 000 CZK
Live2 179 129 600 CZK
Live online392 077 800 CZK

Other statistics confirm the dominance of online slots

Online slot machine player deposits in 2024 amounted to 528 336 635 000 CZK. In the last five years, the market has increased by 369%, which clearly puts it ahead of other types of gambling. However, live casino games and the new online game with a live dealer have also seen a high increase.

With increasing deposits, player payouts have also increased. In 2024, they amounted to 507 934 399 000 CZK (in the last five years, payouts have exceeded 1.5 billion). At first glance, it may seem that high payouts work to the disadvantage of operators – but the opposite is true.

A high return to player (RTP) attracts more and more players. Although online slot machines pay out 96% of the deposit, their profits still significantly exceed other games. They are only competed with by land-based slot machines, which are in a long-term decline and their position on the market is uncertain.

Comparison of land-based and online casinos

The overall dominance of online gambling is also confirmed by the increasing profits in recent years. While in 2020 land-based games (slotteries, lotteries, odds betting and live games) had a profit advantage of less than 2 billion CZK, the following year the online sector took the lead and reported a profit that was more than 3 billion CZK higher.

The scissors are gradually opening (except for the anomaly in 2022, when the sectors were almost the same). In 2024, online casinos showed a profit that was more than 11 billion CZK higher than that of land-based operators, which clearly indicates their dominance in the market.

The rise of a new player?

Live games on the Internet – the so-called live dealer – have seen an increase. However, in 2024, live games need to be understood differently than in previous years – they have undergone a fundamental transformation. The change in legislation has caused a revolution in this industry, which now looks different.

  • The dealer sits in a licensed live casino.
  • Players sit behind a computer screen and watch the dealer’s live stream.
  • The game is played according to the rules of classic games (blackjack, roulette, poker).
  • Several players sit at one virtual table.

The year-on-year increase is still gradual – but again, let’s take into account the transformation of the game itself. Casinos cannot operate the new and old types at the same time, so they are gradually switching to live games with a dealer (e.g. Sazka, Tipsport, Luckybet).

Live casinos will probably not replace online slot machines. But one thing is certain – they will affect classic brick-and-mortar casinos. However, high operating costs and technological sophistication speak against them. But this is not insurmountable. Especially if in 2024 alone it brought over half a billion to operators.

Statistics for live online casinos 2020–2024
YearDepositsWinsRevenueYear-on-year increase
20206 734 281 000 CZK6 426 720 000 CZK307 561 000 CZK38 %
202112 680 365 000 CZK12 248 872 000 CZK431 493 000 CZK40 %
202212 326 621 000 CZK11 937 665 000 CZK388 956 000 CZK-10 %
202313 996 689 000 CZK13 584 380 000 CZK412 309 000 CZK6 %
202415 497 191 000 CZK15 077 121 000 CZK420 070 000 CZK2 %

Summary of the gambling market over the last five years

How have changes in the gambling market affected sales? Statistics show a clear dominance of online slot machines. Betting in brick-and-mortar establishments have probably had their day – it will only be a matter of time before they stop being profitable.

No matter what type of game we look at, the dominance of online over land-based is clear. Easy registration, the comfort of home and technological sophistication of games are reflected in ever higher sales. And this despite the ever-tightening legislation for the operation of online gambling.

Where will the next five years lead us? Probably to the strengthening of online formats and the retreat of brick-and-mortar establishments. However, the success of casinos will depend mainly on how operators can bring them closer to a new type of player – comfortable, online and increasingly demanding.

The online gaming business brings challenges, but above all opportunities – in this case literally billions. More and more people are playing online and abandoning the land-based style. From an operator’s perspective, it is therefore necessary to accommodate these players.

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