Prevention and Support: Responsible Gambling at Chance

Gambling carries the risk that play turns into addiction. Responsible gambling is the answer to that risk: a conscious and controlled way of playing that is meant to keep the harm from excessive gambling to a minimum.

Czech law therefore expects the operator to take an active role. Under §§ 13 to 16 of zákon č. 186/2016 Sb., operators, and so CHANCE a.s. too, must make tools and information for safe gambling available to players. Among other things, this covers setting money and time limits, information about risks and self-exclusion, and the protection of minors.

The other side is the player. By paying attention to their own behaviour, a player can spot the warning signs of problem gambling before they cause trouble.

The shift from ordinary play to problem gambling is often hard to notice. Treat the following situations in particular as a warning:

1. Your mental or physical health is getting worse because of gambling.
2. You try to get lost money back by playing on (“chasing losses”).
3. When you cannot gamble, you feel restless, irritable or anxious.
4. You keep your gambling hidden from family or friends.
5. You keep playing although gambling is bringing you debts or disputes.
6. You neglect your job, school or family because of gambling.
7. You feel the need to gamble more often or with larger stakes.
8. You repeatedly go beyond the limits you set yourself, or you borrow money to play.

If you see these patterns in yourself or in someone close, it is worth using the preventive tools or seeking professional help.

How can you restrict your gambling at Chance? A registered player finds all the necessary tools in their account; the operator offers them under zákon č. 186/2016 Sb.

• Time-out: a break from gambling for 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days. While it lasts, you can neither log in nor play. When it ends, the account is active again.
• Time limit: the longest period you may spend gambling in a day or a week.
• Reality check: a regular notice of how much time you have spent playing.
• Loss and bet limit: a cap on net losses or on the total value of bets for a chosen period; once you hit it, the system will not let you continue.
• Deposit limit: a daily, weekly or monthly maximum for payments into the gaming account. After it is used up, no further deposit goes through until the period has passed.

Limits are set, reduced and cancelled in the account. Raising a limit becomes effective only once a protection period of no less than 24 hours has passed.

A panic button is available in the user interface for all registered players. Since 1 July 2024, offering it has been compulsory for gambling operators on the basis of § 16bb of zákon č. 186/2016 Sb.

Activating the button triggers an immediate temporary exclusion from all gambling for 48 hours. The player is automatically shut out of all the operator's online platforms and cannot play during that time. At the same point, the system invites them to submit an application for entry into the Register of Excluded Persons (RVO).

Zákon č. 186/2016 Sb. gives players the option of having themselves excluded from gambling. All it takes is a request to the operator, made either in the user account or directly through the operator, together with a choice of whether the exclusion should be temporary or permanent.

Keep two things in mind:

• being listed in the RVO register concerns all gambling operators in the Czech Republic, not only the one where you applied,
• you can ask for removal from the RVO no earlier than one year from the date of entry.

The RVO is a list of people excluded from gambling, kept by the Czech Ministry of Finance under zákon č. 186/2016 Sb. Anyone on it cannot gamble with any licensed operator in the Czech Republic.

You get onto the list either at your own request or directly by law, for example in enforcement proceedings, in insolvency proceedings or when you receive certain benefits. An application for entry is accepted by the operator in your user account; it can also be confirmed after activating the panic button, sent to the Ministry of Finance (Ministerstvo financí ČR) through a data box, or filed in person at Czech POINT.

Anyone who wants to gamble in the Czech Republic must be at least 18; this threshold is set by zákon č. 186/2016 Sb. The operator ensures the condition is met: at registration it verifies the age and identity of each player, for example through BankID or another method, and repeats the check when winnings are withdrawn. Participation by minors is strictly prohibited.

Try to answer each question honestly with yes or no. The questions are based on the PGSI (Problem Gambling Severity Index).

• Do you think it would be good for you to gamble less?
• Have you spent more on gambling than you intended?
• Do you play again in order to win back what you lost?
• Have you ever taken out a loan because of gambling?
• Has someone around you raised a problem with your gambling?
• Do you often feel guilt over gambling?
• Do you neglect your commitments or loved ones because of gambling?

Several yes answers mean it is worth using the prevention tools or contacting professional support. This is only an indicative test, not a professional diagnosis.

Help with gambling addiction is provided by specialist services that act discreetly. You can get in touch once gambling stops being enjoyable for you:

• the Clinic of Addictology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague (adiktologie.cz),
• the National Helpline for Addiction, telephone 800 350 000, free and anonymous,
• Společnost Podané ruce, podaneruce.cz.

Is some information missing here, or is something unclear to you? Send a message to contact@chance-promo.cz and let us know what you need.

I suspect I am addicted. What is the first step? You can start with the self-test, set limits for yourself, or turn to the National Helpline for Addiction, telephone 800 350 000. What is the panic button and since when is it compulsory? It is a tool for immediate exclusion from all gambling, lasting 48 hours. It has been compulsory since 1 July 2024. Which limits does Chance offer? A deposit limit, a bet limit, a loss limit and a time limit. They are all set in the user account under responsible gambling. Can minors gamble? No, people under 18 are barred from taking part. This is verified at registration and also when winnings are withdrawn. How can I apply for entry into the RVO? Through your account with the operator, by activating the panic button, through the data box of the Ministry of Finance (Ministerstvo financí ČR) or in person at Czech POINT. How long before I can leave the RVO? You can ask to be removed from the register only after one year from the entry. Where can I find more detail on responsible gambling? In the responsible gambling section of the operator's website, or on the website of the Czech Ministry of Finance.

Gambling is prohibited for anyone under 18. 18+

The statutory warning also applies: according to the Ministry of Finance, gambling may lead to addiction.