Shrnutí: In July 2026, the Ministry of Finance added the Polymarket prediction platform to the list of unauthorized online games. Internet service providers must therefore block access to these sites, and related payments or distribution of the app may also be restricted. Czech users themselves will generally not be fined simply for placing bets on the platform. However, they may have trouble accessing their accounts and funds.
If you had money deposited on Polymarket, are dealing with unpaid winnings, or are unsure about your tax obligations, have a lawyer assess your situation. With foreign platforms, it depends on the terms of the specific transaction and on who can realistically be held liable.
Polymarket is an online prediction platform where users trade on the outcomes of future events. For example, they can predict:
Users typically choose between “yes” and “no.” The price of a given position changes based on how other participants assess the probability of that outcome. Once the event is resolved, those who bet on the correct option receive a payout.
At first glance, the platform may resemble trading on a financial market. From a legal standpoint, however, neither the name of the service nor the technology used is decisive. What matters is how the product actually works.
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The Gambling Act defines gambling as a game, bet, or lottery in which a participant places a wager whose return is not guaranteed, and in which winning or losing is determined wholly or partly by chance or an unknown circumstance.
It is precisely this unknown circumstance that is fundamental to prediction markets. It need not be a randomly drawn number. The outcome may also depend on the results of an election, an announcement by the government, or the occurrence of another predefined event.
Furthermore, Czech law also applies to online games operated from abroad if they are accessible to users within the territory of the Czech Republic. A foreign operator cannot, therefore, avoid Czech regulation simply by not having its headquarters or servers in the Czech Republic.
Online gambling may be legally offered in the Czech Republic only if statutory conditions are met and based on the appropriate license. Polymarket did not have such a license. The Ministry of Finance therefore added its website to the list of unauthorized online gambling sites.
The Ministry of Finance added Polymarket to the list of unauthorized online games in July 2026. The media reported on the platform’s inclusion, noting that internet service providers subsequently have a statutory deadline to restrict access.
The Ministry regularly publishes the public portion of the list, which may include:
As of July 20, 2026, the Ministry published an updated version of the list in accordance with the Gambling Act.
This is not, therefore, a ban on the entire technology of prediction markets or public probability surveys. The measure targets a specific service operated without the license required by Czech law.
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Being added to the list does not simply mean that the ministry will issue a warning. The law imposes obligations on several groups of providers.
Internet service providers may not allow access to websites listed on the list. The block applies to specific addresses or domains registered with the Ministry of Finance.
In practice, therefore, a Czech user may find that a website stops loading or displays a message stating that access has been restricted due to Czech law.
However, the block may not take effect at all providers at the same time. It depends on the effective date of the registration and the statutory period for implementing the technical measure.
If the ministry also adds a specific payment account to the list, payment service providers are prohibited from processing transactions in its favor or at its expense.
This may complicate:
Polymarket relies heavily on cryptocurrency infrastructure. However, this does not automatically mean that Czech regulations do not apply to the service. The legal assessment of gambling operations does not depend solely on whether bets are paid in Czech korunas, euros, or digital assets.
Operators of online stores and other electronic interfaces are prohibited from distributing an app whose identifier has been added to the list of unauthorized games.
As a result, the app may disappear from the selection available to Czech users or become unavailable for download and updates.
Under the Gambling Act, internet service providers, payment service providers, or operators of electronic interfaces may face a fine of up to one million crowns for failing to comply with obligations related to blocking.
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The mere participation of an ordinary user in an unauthorized online game is not generally defined by law as an offense that would automatically result in a fine.
The law primarily penalizes:
A different situation could arise if a person were to make an unauthorized gambling platform available to others, facilitate its operation, or participate in the operator’s activities for profit.
Simply opening an account and placing bets on the platform therefore does not usually mean that the player will be fined by the state. However, this certainly does not mean that using an unauthorized platform is risk-free.
The blocking of the website itself does not close your account or automatically return your deposited funds to you. From a practical standpoint, however, it can significantly complicate access to your account or the process of making a withdrawal.
If you have money on the platform or open positions that haven’t been settled yet:
In practice, the biggest mistake users make is failing to save their account history, leaving all information solely within the foreign platform. Once access is restricted or the operator blocks the account, proving the amount of the claim becomes significantly more difficult.
Do you need help with unpaid funds or to assess the terms and conditions of a foreign platform? A lawyer can investigate who operates the service, what law governs the contractual relationship, and whether there is a realistic chance of recovering the money.
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In July 2026, the Ministry of Finance added Polymarket to the List of Unauthorized Online Gambling Sites because the platform allowed Czech users to place bets on future events without the necessary license under the Gambling Act. Internet service providers must restrict access to listed websites, and the block may also apply to payment accounts or apps. As a rule, ordinary users do not face a fine simply for placing bets on the platform. However, they do face a significant practical risk: they may lose access to their account, encounter problems withdrawing funds, and find it difficult to enforce their claims against a foreign operator.
No. In July 2026, the Ministry of Finance added it to the List of Prohibited Online Gambling Sites. The platform does not have the license required to legally offer online gambling to Czech users.
The law generally does not impose an automatic fine on ordinary players simply for participating in an unauthorized online game. Penalties are primarily imposed on operators and entities that make unauthorized games available or violate obligations related to blocking such games.
Not automatically. However, a freeze can make it difficult to access your account and withdraw funds. Therefore, save your transaction history, account balance, and all communication with the service provider as soon as possible.
The law does not explicitly impose a separate penalty on ordinary players for using a VPN to access a blocked website. However, doing so may violate the platform’s terms of service and reduce your chances of getting a refund.
Neither the currency used nor the technology involved is decisive. What matters is that the user wagers funds, their return is not guaranteed, and the outcome depends on a future, unknown event.
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Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 15 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 15 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
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