Version: 03112002
Editor: Franka Pals
Publisher: Novamedia
Disclaimer: Novamedia disclaims all liability for information provided within the "Novamedia European Gaming and Lottery Files".The information is supplied by independent journalistic sources. No parts of these files may be reproduced in any form by print, photo print, microfilm or otherwise, or re-distributed electronically in any form without written permission from the publisher.
The following attachments to this file can be downloaded from our website, www.novamediaeuropeangamingandlotteryfiles.com, from the Czech Republic-page: Sazka a.s. Act of Collect., on Lotteries and other like Games (Word-document).
The Czech Republic (a parliamentary democracy) is situated approximately in the geographical center of Europe and it shares borders with Germany, Poland, Austria and Slovakia. The highest point of elevation is the peak of Mt. Snezka (1,602 m above sea level) and the lowest point of elevation is near Hoensko where the River Labe leaves Czech territory (117 m above sea level).
After World War II the political system in Czechoslovakia was greatly affected by the introduction of a Soviet-style Communist regime. After February 1948 the Communist Party became the only autonomous political entity. It allowed a few other parties to exist within the so-called National Front, however, these parties held no real power and were created to provide an outward image of Czechoslovakia as a democratic state.
After the revolutionary events of November 1989 which brought about the downfall of the Communist regime (Velvet Revolution) the entire country faced the uneasy task of resuming its pre-Communist traditions and building a democratic political system. A wide diversity of political parties were wellestablished even before the break-up (vel vet-divorce) of Czechoslovakia on December 31, 1992. The constitution of the Czech Republic which became valid on the day of the birth of the new state explicitly defined civil rights, the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of power and the independence of the judiciary. The Czech Republic is now a member of NATO and will join the EU. The Czech Republic became the first post-communist member of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in December 1995. As part of its accession to the OECD the Czech government agreed to meet (with a small number of exceptions) the OECD standards for equal treatment of foreign and domestic investors and restrictions on special investment incentives.
The Government is the supreme body of executive power. It consists of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers and coordinates the activities of the ministries and the central bodies of the state administration and manages the state administration throughout the territory of the state. The Government has exclusive legislative initiative in terms of the state budget.
The Prague Stock Exchange was on June 14, 2001 affiliated as the Associate Member of the Federation of the European Securities Exchanges (FESE).
GDP Estimate for 3rd Quarter of 2001
According to preliminary estimates, con stant price GDP grew 3.2% y-o-y in the third quarter and 3.6% y-o-y in the first to third quarters. After seasonal adjustment, the third quarter GDP grew 0.8% q-o-q (as in the second quarter compared to the first one). The economy grows steadily despite the slackening in our main business partners' countries and the appreciation of the Czech koruna. As in the previous quarters the year-on-year CZK 12.1 billion increase in constant price GDP in the third quarter was affected positively especially by increases in gross capital formation (by CZK +13.5 billion) and final consumption expenditure by households (CZK +6.7 billion) and negatively again by the worsening of net exports (by CZK -8.0 billion). Final consumption expenditure by government and non-profit institutions exercised virtually no influence (by CZK -0.1 billion).
Together with the GDP estimate for the third quarter, the CZSO also updated the quarterly indicators of GDP sources and uses for 2000. The correction was initiated by adjustments to trade balance made to reflect revised customs statistics on exports and imports on the one hand and by changes in the balance of services made by the Czech National Bank. All this affected GDP at both current and constant prices for the whole 2000 very slightly and, therefore, the annual growth (2.9% and 3.8% at constant and current prices, respectively) remained unchanged. Along with these changes, the indicators for the first and second quarters of 2001 were updated.
The corrections mentioned above resulted in partial adjustments to the estimate of GDP year-on-year development and related indicators for the 1st half of 2001: the GDP growth index was reduced 0.1% for each of the two quarters (down to 4.0% and 3.8% for the first and second quarters, respectively).
Year-on-year development of GDP expenditure in the third quarter (constant prices of 1995):
The CZK 10.8 billion growth of constant price gross value added broken down by industry was positively affected mainly by developments in manufacturing (CZK +5.4 billion, +5.6%), transport and telecommuni cations (CZK +4.3 billion, +14.7%), and business services (CZK +2.1 billion, +5.4%). Banking saw a considerable growth, which was caused by an increase in the item financial intermediation (FISIM). However, the item does not influence total GDP at all as its total is subtracted from the total for industries. The year-on-year drops in gross value added derived for agriculture, construction and some other industries are a consequence of different price developments of inputs and outputs (at current prices, the value added grew in agriculture and construction, too: 7.0% and 7.7%, respectively).
Current price GDP grew 9.6% year-on-year in the third quarter, which is more than in the first quarter (+8.1%) and second quarter (+9.0%). However, the total price level measured by GDP deflator grew even faster (by 4.0%, 5.1% and 6.1% in the first, second, and third quarters, respectively). This growth is likely to have been influenced by the development of world prices (crude oil in particular) and the exchange rate of the Czech koruna in foreign exchange markets - inputs to the economy react to exogenous stimuli more flexibly than outputs.
| Population: | 10,292,204 (June 2001) |
|---|---|
| Age Structure | 0 – 19 years: 2,484,719 20 – 64 years: 6,393,464 65 years and over: 1,411.438 (Czech Statistical Office) |
| Currency: | Czech crown (CZK) 1.00 CZK = 0.0315711 EUR 1.00 EUR = 31.6712 CZK 1.00 CZK = 0.0274355 USD 1.00 USD = 36.4534 CZK (date: 2002.02.06) |
| Internet: | Internet usage penetration in 2000: 12.3% |
| Telephones | Fixed-line penetration in 2000: 37.5% Mobile penetration in 2000: 40.9% |
| Other | PC penetration in 2000: 12.0% Cable TV penetration in 2000: 20.0% Source: ESIS, 2001; mobile operators, 2001; Polish Market Review, 2001. |
The Czech lottery and gaming industry may soon have a new representative body, tentatively named the Czech Chamber of Lotteries. On April 18, 2001 ten companies the representatives of bingo operators, casinos, slot machine operators and numbers lotteries signed a declaration of mutual cooperation.
The most important information of Act No. 202/1990:
| Difference in mill. CZK | 0-50 | 50-100 | 100-500 | 500-1000 | >1000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed % of return | 6% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 20% |
For the complete law: see document 'Czech Lottery Act' on www.novamediaeuropeangamingandlotteryfiles.com.
Website: www.sazka.cz
Joint-stock company SAZKA is by far the largest lottery company in the Czech Republic. SAZKA is a full member of the World Lottery Association (WLA) and the European State Lotteries Association (ESLTA). The company's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Ales Husak, is second Vice President of the ESLTA. Its main operations are betting games, number games, and instant lotteries. It offers its products on the market via its business partners. The company's mission is to generate funds to support good causes for public, mainly in Czech sport and physical education and the company's goal is to maximize these finances.
The State Betting Office (STASKA) was wound up in 1953. On 3 August 1956 the State Committee for Physical Education and Sport founded SAZKA specifically to organize betting on the results of sports matches with the proceeds earmarked for the support of sport and tourism. On 1 January 1957 following the adoption of the Physical Education Act and the emergence of the Czechoslovak Physical Education Union, the company became the economic arm of the Union. In 1990 a year after the 'Velvet Revolution' in the Czech Republic which resulted in the fall of Communism and the opened up the way to democracy, the Czechoslovak Physical Education Union was dissolved and successor organizations were founded to take its place: the Czech and Slovak Confederation of Sports and Physical Education Unions, the Czech Physical Education Union (CSTV) and the Slovak Physical Education Association.
At the end of 1992 the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic was dismantled giving way to two new states in 1993 : the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.
On 27 November 1992 the Czech Physical Education Union and the Czech Sokol Community established SAZKA, a.s. Since 1993, SAZKA, a.s., has been up and running in the Czech Republic and SPORTKA a.s., in Slovakia. SAZKA, a.s., actually started operations on 15 February 1993.
| 2000 | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total revenues | 15,630,056 | 12,265,109 |
| of which: | ||
| Revenues from betting games, number and instant lotteries | 6,947,969 | 5,991,103 |
| Revenues from other activities subject to income tax | 8,440,177 | 6,015,007 |
| Total Costs | 14,556,860 | 11,226,860 |
of which: |
|
|
| Prizes | 3,572,720 | 2,967,531 |
| Profit before tax | 1,101,170 | 1,082,375 |
| Profit after tax | 1,073,196 | 1,038,249 |
| Shareholders' equity | 2,754,390 | 2,571,084 |
| Total use of proceeds in the public benefit | 901,000 | 860,000 |
| of which: | ||
Physical education and sport |
898,268 | 860,000 |
Charitable causes |
2,732 | 0 |
Average adjusted number of employees |
389 | 357 |
Earnings per employee |
2,759 | 2,908 |
Registerered share capital is 1,399,600,000 and the shareholders' equity was in 2000: 4,343,400,000 (in 1999: 2,571,084,000).
SAZKA a.s. generates a larger amount of its lottery and betting game proceed than required by law. In 2000 the company could cede CZK 218 million more than its legal obligation. Those funds go mainly to areas in which its shareholdings are active.
At 31 December 2000 SAZKA, a.s. held equity stakes in the following companies:
Agro Tera, a.s. (98.77%). Principal businesses:
Arkadia, a.s (3.03%). Principal businesses:
Business Centre SAZKA, a.s. (100%). Principal Businesses:
Dali Real, a.s. (100%). Principal businesses:
Kabel Plus SPort a.s. (100%). Principal businesses:
In 2000 the company's business plan goals were fullfilled in the context of a gradual recovery of the Czech economy. Gross domestic product (GNP) grew by more (2.6%) than predicted in the business plan (1%), the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by only 4.0% and the unemployment rate fell by 0.6%. The relation between real wages and labour productivity also moved in a positive direction. The year saw a continuation of the massive infux of foreign investment which was behind a relative strengthening of the Czech Koruna. On the other hand, however, ther was major growth in the state budget deficit (up CZK 46 billion). Even so the most significant factor affecting SAZKA's financial performance was the strengthening U.S. Dollar
| Number Lotteries | revenues |
| Sportka (Lotto6/49) | 4,764,419,404 |
| Sáska 5 ze 40 (Pick 5 from 40) | 65,124,310 |
| Sance (Chance) | 316,353,010 |
| Stastnych (Lucky 10) | 1,370,793,350 |
| Sance million (Million Chance) | 67,886,030 |
| 6,584,576,104 | |
| Instant Lotteries | |
| Horoskopy (Horoscopes) | 52,113,180 |
| Horka stopa (Hot Track) | 59,991,300 |
| Olympijska loterie 2000 (Olympic Lottery 2000) | 12,787,830 |
| Setrena siza (Wiped Tear) | 32,576,850 |
| Sberatelska loterie Collectors' Lottery-Puppies) | 26,493,760 |
| Panna-Orel (Heads and Tails) | 29,429,360 |
| Stastna cisla (Lucky numbers) | 32,902,320 |
| 246,294,600 | |
| Transfer instant lotteries 1999 | 115,701,800 |
| Transfer instant lotteries 2000 | (148,816,740) |
| Overall instant lotteries revenues after transfer adjustment | 213,179,660 |
| Sporstbetting | |
| Sazka | 28,255,300 |
| Skore Saska | 407,162 |
| Sáska vyber (Saska Select) | 119,811,130 |
| Skóre plus (Scoe Plus) | 1,124,510 |
| Sázka na víteze (Bet on the Winner) | 614,860 |
| 150,212,962 | |
| Total revenues | 6,947,968,726 |
SAZKA's website (www.sazka.cz) was launched in September 1997. Since then it has become an integral part of the promotions and marketing activities of SAZKA, a.s. The operation updating and future development and use of the website are fully in line with the company's long-term objectives.
External use of Internet focused in particular on promoting SAZKA, a.s and its products providing access to information on SAZKA's shareholders and gathering information beeded for developing SAZKA's betting game and lottery businesses.
In 2000 SAZKA placed a separate 'English Pages' link on their main website.
SAZKA, a.s. has been using www.tipovani.cz since mid-2001 to provide information services as well as entertainment and methodological instructions to its customers.
On that site SAZKA offers currently also three types of odds betting. Sazka výber (Sazka Select) is the most popular game of this type where the players can tip the results of selected matches from the game's program. Another game, Score Plus, makes it possible to bet on specific results of selected matches. Sázka na víteze (Bet on the Winner) is intended to bet on the winner of selected sports or other events
"I consider the resolution of this dispute to be one of the greatest successes of the present Company management and I am glad that, together with GTECH representatives we managed to solve the whole affair in a manner which is profitable for both parties and which will restore and extend our business cooperation. Both parties are now ready to face all competition challenges side by side. Our new cooperation brings in massive investment from our American suppliers and as a result will substantially expand the SAZKA services offered to the player community. It is going to be one of the most significant U.S. investments in the Czech Republic in recent years, an invest ment negotiated exclusively between private parties with no State participation," said Dr. Ales Husák, SAZKA's General Manager and Chairman of the Board of Directors. SAZKA, a.s. will continue to be 100% owned by Czech interests as provided by law as the investment involves technological facilities rather than in registered funds. The company will repay this investment by an agreed revenue percentage.
The Horoskopy II scratch tickets of rectan gular shape are sold in twelve variants, each with one zodiacal sign. Each variant is sold in two colour alternatives with a blue and a red playing field, respectively. This longterm issue has been sold since 9 April 2001 and will be discontinued on 30 April 2004. The ticket costs 20 CZK (about US$ 0.50). The total of 18,000,000 tickets will be issued in three series.
The play system is classical, the same as with most scratch tickets. The player who finds three identical amounts is entitled to one of seven wins, from 20 CZK to 40, 100, 1,000, 10,000, 100,000 CZK (some US$ 2,500) up to the highest win of 250,000 CZK (some US$ 6,250).
The game Horoskopy II constitutes a continuation of a very successful and popular previous game also based on the zodiacal signs Horoskopy. Lotteries of this type have been successful not only in the Czech Republic but in other countries as well. The main reason is the option to select a ticket according to one's lucky sign or that of one's nearest and dearest. The colouring of Horoskopy II is now brighter and more contrasting. Compared with its predecessor, Horoskopy II now offers a lower main win, but to a higher number of potential winners.
The Casino tickets bear pictures of typical casino elements, slot machines and the main symbol of the lottery the lucky number 7. A long-term lottery is again involved; the ticket costs 20 CZK. Casino has been sold since 17 April 2001 and will be discontinued on 31 December 2004. Three symbols Monte Carlo, Cards and Dice represent the names of three sub-series with the total number of 18,000,000 issued tickets.
Having scratched the playing field the player finds nine symbols. Three identical symbols represent the win indicated in a table at the top part of the ticket: star wins 20 CZK, horseshoe 70 CZK, heart 700 CZK, four-leaf 7000 CZK, 'smiles' 77,777 CZK (about US$ 1,944), and diamond the main win 777,777 CZK (about US$ 19,444).
The Casino scratch tickets also constitute a continuation of a previous game the very popular game Las Vegas launched five years ago. The main win of the Casino lottery is at present the highest amount a player may win in any of the scratch ticket lotteries organised by SAZKA, a.s.
While in 1998 and 1999 the bonus amounted to twenty million in 2001 it is higher by 50 %. In addition to the Sportka Jackpot potential winners may look forward to a 30-million bonus (some US$750 thousand). Only players who fill in the full Sportka ticket including the supplementary game S?ance Chance (an auxiliary Sportka game where bets are placed on the last six-digit combination of the ticket serial number). The winner must pick all 6 numbers drawn in the Sportka game (in the first or the second draw) and the last combination of the S?ance game (Chance game).
The first draw involving the bonus pro ceeded on 23 May 2001, the last will be on 15 July 2001. If the bonus remains intact also after this last draw the amount will betransferred to the second, potentially also the third Sportka winning rank and divided among the winners satisfying the prescribed criteria. If the winner is not determined even then, the whole amount of the Summer Bonus will be transferred to all five Sportka winning ranks of the last draw.
Commencing March this year the service has been extended to include the current program and results of the game SAZKA Choice, results are up-dated twice a day.
The entire service continues being com pletely free of charge: all players' need do is click on the web site, elis.sazka.cz where they can register or possibly bring up to date the selection of information they are interested in.
For many years now the regular drawing of SAZKA, a.s. games has been inextricably linked with its presentation on the Czech TV screens. Since 1967 the company has been preparing popular TV programming connected with the drawing of SAZKA's MATES game. In the following years the Czechoslovak TV also broadcast the drawing of such games as Sportka, Pick 5 from 40 (Pick 5 from 40), Chance, Super 49 etc. The light entertainment TV programmes featuring the drawing of such games as Tutovka, Bingo and Ranec proved to be very popular with the country's TV viewers.
And yet, the live broadcasts of the drawings in the former Czechoslovak Television posed numerous problems:
Due to those reasons SAZKA decided to build its own TV studio in the ground-floor premises of its headquarters in Prague. This has helped in ensuring substantially higher security, cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
During the time of operation of its TV studio (six years) SAZKA, a.s. has produced thousands of programmes featuring the drawing of its betting games. In addition it has produced to date several hundred sportsrelated documentaries for other TV companies. Czech-language commentaries have been prepared for dozens of foreign films and many customers have used the pictorial, sound and postproduction facilities in SAZKA's TV complex. Over the years SAZKA's TV studio has grown to be an important financial asset for the company.
Its free production capacities have been successfully rented out to other entities.
Thanks to its overall advantages and practi cal significance SAZKA's TV studio has proved its worth to such an extent that in the spring of this year the SAZKA management decided to build another and more modern TV complex of its own. One of the reasons for building the new facility lay in the occasional critical words uttered by the Czech betting public who complained that betters in the Czech Republic cannot personally attend the draws. Members of the country's broad betting public are keen on directly participating in the drawing to make sure about the correctness of the procedures and compliance with all the regulations, thus satisfying themselves that it is only luck that decides the winners. SAZKA has never taken these critical words lightly. Indeed the confidence of its customers the betting public is its greatest asset.
Equipped with state-of-the-art digital technology, SAZKA's new TV studio is reserved solely for the production of drawing programmes, offering all the required security parameters, large safes, and fixed drawing equipment, meeting the strictest drawing requirements. At the same time, it will be possible to easily secure public attendance at regular draws. During the drawing, spectators will be able to watch what goes on in the studio through large safety windows.
Back in May 2001 the lounge used for the payout of the major prizes to winners underwent overall reconstruction. The lucky winners receive their fabulous prizes won in SAZKA's betting games and lotteries in a tastefully designed environment where all the safety precautions are complied with. Needless to add, full anonymity of all the people involved is strictly maintained.
On the whole SAZKA operates three types of odds-betting games. The most popular is the Sazka výber (Sazka Select) odds-betting game, with customers betting on several fixtures from the game's programme. Skóre plus (Score Plus) provides for betting exact results of selected fixtures, while Sázka na víteze (Bet on the Winner) is a game of betting the winners of selected sports matches and other events.
The entire transaction represents the implementation of an agreement that was concluded on February 26, 2001 in New York between SAZKA, a.s. and GTECH Corporation. The agreement ended the arbitration conducted by the companies at the International Arbitral Centre of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce.
GTECH Corporation is a leading world supplier of lottery technologies and has been ensuring for SAZKA, a.s. since 1993 the operation and maintenance of its online system.
In general, SAZKA is a great Lobby-Power-House. Not only is SAZKA's Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager Ales Husak Vice-President of the European Lotteries but another company employee is a member of the working group for European legal matters. "Membership of this working group gave SAZKA the opportunity to monitor and infuence the development of European lottery law and help inthe process of the Czech Republic's convergence with the European Union." Furthermore repre sentatives of SAZKA attended the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia as official partners of the Czech Olympic Committee.
Having implemented this project, SAZKA, a.s. offers all players the opportunity of three-dimensional stroll not only through a strong room holding the numbers of SPORTKA game (6/49 LOTTO-type game) but also the possibility of shooting their random tips for STASTNYCH 10 (Lucky 10 a KENO-type game) in a Southland saloon or of trying their luck in SAZKA 5 ZE 40 (Pick 5 from 40 5/40 LOTTO-type game) in a bowling room.
The splendid environment of the exhibition hall will display actual and historical lottery tickets of instant lotteries and only one more step brings the visitor to the sun gallery with paintings of contemporaneous Czech artists.
From the heliport on the roof of SAZKA's virtual house you can easily travel to any of the tipping rooms. And if you wish SAZKIA will show you the results of actual draw on a monitor.
The new project is the product of agreement made by SAZKA with GTECH in February 2001 when both parties showed major interest in expanding their collaboration also outside lottery operations. GTECH is one of leading lottery technologies suppliers and it has provided operation and maintenance of the system of on line terminals for SAZKA since 1993.
SAZKA first presented its idea to use the on line system for other than lottery purposes about six months ago. Hard and dedicated joint efforts by SAZKA and GTECH resulted on 8th April 2002 in launching the operation testing of the new credit recharging service in 30 SAZKA points of sale. After two weeks of operation testing the project was launched on all on line terminals.
The GSM credit recharging system is based on a platform by Compaq, a leading strategic IT partner and hard- and software supplier. The operation is very simple for the customer. Using the standard method of ticking numbers in a 10 lines by 9 columns matrix the customer completes the recharging ticket in which s/he specifies the telephone number the credit of which s/he desires to recharge, the recharging amount and, if required, also a telephone number where the recharging confirmation SMS message is to be sent. The operator of on line terminal will check the submitted ticket for correct completion and after receiving the appropriate amount, the ticket is inserted in the terminal scanner. The recharged number can be entered also using the bar code attached to the mobile telephone backside or printed on a card or entered manually on the terminal keyboard. The data are processed by the on line terminal and the outcome is sent as a request to the GTECH data centre. There, the request is filed and dispatched to the RadioMobil data centre for service validation. The validation outcome is known in the GTECH data centre within seconds, to be transmitted to the on line terminal. In case of positive validation, the terminal will file the request in the defined time-out FIFO stack, and the transaction execution confirmation is printed. If the request is declined, the customer is handed back the money. Upon successful recharging, which is usually done after two minutes, the customer will have received the SMS confirmation message on the indicated telephone number. Once completed, the recharging ticket can be used repeatedly and hence the customer has to fill nothing the next time. The above steps are taking place asynchronously meaning that the Radio- Mobil data centre is able to process a number of request at one time.
website: www.tipsport.cz
Tipsport a.s, established in Prague, is an international operating sportsbetting company, where one may bet via fax and telephone on sports as international and national Football, Formula 1, Tennis, American Sports, Alpine Ski, Golf, Boxing, etc. Site languages in English, German and Czech. Taxes on the pay out is 5%.
The Board of Directors of Tipsport gives the following information on their sportsbetting company: "One of the biggest betting shops in Eastern Europe came into existence in spring of 1991. From the very beginning Tipsport made it their aim to become a major shop in the area of odds betting with a wide offer, high odds and an attractive gambling scheme. It is up to their clients to judge how they have managed to meet this aim, however, developing a network of approximately 217 branches in the area of the Czech Republic in almost all towns with more than 10 thousand inhabitants and continuously increasing interest of bettors prove it has been achieved in many respects.
"The odds betting is an exciting entertainment for sports experts when everybody knows immediately after the sports event finishes what their winning is if their tip was correct. Actually it is a sort of a duel between bookmakers of the betting shop and their clients. We respect the fact that more than one score of thousands of clients daily contest this hard, however, fair duel in the field of sports knowledge. We strongly believe that Tipsport offers such rules and parameters of this "joust" which will address further supporters of this exciting entertainment.
"Not only can you bet in branches with Tipsport but you can also place bets by telephone quite safely. A personal identification code of each client entered on the keyboard of their telephone set secures that there is no abuse by a third party.
"The offer range is really noticeable. With Tipsport you can bet on football, hockey, tennis, handball, volleyball, basketball, boxing, skiing, motorsports, cycling, golf and on the events related. You can bet on all important matches of the above mentioned sports, and apply basically any combination at your discretion.
Every expert must see that the odds level is very high in Tipsport providing an opportunity for interesting winnings even with lower stakes. The odds level can be judged best when compared with the competition.
A detailed Gambling Scheme of Tipsport contains a series of interesting possibilities and bets. A very famous possibility, though not traditional in the world, is betting on "double tips". In one tip you can bet on the win of one of the rivals and on the draw at the same time, although in lower odds. Special types of bets, some of which are quite specific and non-traditional, are also much- sought-for. We can mention bets such as Gradual Increase /Accrual/, Shift, Combination, Specification, Duel and Handicap. Some of these bets provide a possibility to obtain interesting bonuses or to use rather unusual parameters.
Tipsport continuously makes the effort to develop the betting possibilities and minimum once a year they update their Gambling Scheme to be able to provide their bettors with new improvements.
Technical and programme improvements are matter, of course, as well as the offer enrichment and its presentation through mass media. You can daily find the Tipsport offer, inter alia, on the teletext Eurosport (543 and 544).
The betting shop Tipsport is not only aimed at business activities. From the very beginning Tipsport spends substantial amounts of money to support various sports and other projects beneficial to the public.
Lubomir Jezek, director of public relations of Tipsport, adds: "The owners of Tipsport are Czechian private persons. To place a bet is possible in the so called 'Stone Shops' of which there are 500 in the Czech Republic. Above that one may wager a bet via telephone. We have also betting by phone for foreigners (Eurosport page 543). According to Czech law it is not allowed to bet via Internet. Therefore we have the largest network of betting shops in the Czech Republic and we think this accounts also for Eastern Europe as well. We employ approximately 1,000 persons. And our market share of the sportsbetting is around 45%. Our loyalty program is called Tipkonto."
CHANCE (www.chance.cz) and Fortunasázky (www.fortuna-sazky.cz) are two other known bookmakers.
To get a license for sportsbetting in the Czech Republic seems to be not too difficult. And for anyone who thinks of starting a 'booky' operation, please take first a look at: http://www.uzdroje.cz/Zabava/Sport/Sazkove_kancelare_a_loterie/abc.htm