Safer Gambling at Fortuna: Limits, Exclusion and Support

What does the term mean?

A way of gambling in which the player acts consciously and keeps the game under control. Its purpose is to limit the harm caused by excessive play and to prevent addiction.

What does the operator contribute?

Under §§ 13 to 16 of zákon č. 186/2016 Sb., each operator, FORTUNA GAME a.s. being one of them, makes tools and information for safer play available to players: financial and time limits, guidance on risks and on self-exclusion, and measures to protect minors.

And the player?

No tool achieves anything if nobody uses it. That is why it pays to watch your own behaviour and not to overlook the warning signs of problem gambling.

Prevention tools and professional help make sense as soon as the first warning signs appear, because problem gambling develops gradually. Watch out in particular for:

• a decline in mental or physical health linked to gambling,
• attempts to even out losses with further play,
• gambling despite debts or disputes,
• restlessness, irritability or anxiety when play is not possible,
• gambling more frequently or for higher sums,
• borrowing to gamble and exceeding your own financial limit,
• hiding gambling from family and friends,
• neglecting work, school or household duties.

If you notice one of these signs in yourself or in someone you love, do not put it off and act early.

Every registered player has tools in their user account that Fortuna provides in line with zákon č. 186/2016 Sb. Their purpose is to let players monitor and restrict their own gambling.

Deposit limit. It sets the highest amount you can send to your gaming account in a day, a week or a month. Once you reach it, the system accepts the next deposit only in the new period.

Bet and loss limit. It keeps track of how much you stake or lose net over the chosen period. When the threshold is reached, you cannot place another bet or keep playing.

Time limit and reality check. You decide how much time per day or week you can give to gambling, and the reality check reminds you at regular intervals how long you have been playing.

Time-out. You take yourself out of play temporarily for 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days. During that time you do not log in or play; afterwards the account becomes accessible again.

You can set, lower or cancel a limit directly in your account. Raising it is allowed only once a protection period of 24 hours or more has elapsed.

Since when and on what basis

Gambling operators have been obliged to offer a panic button since 1 July 2024. The obligation comes from § 16bb of zákon č. 186/2016 Sb.

What the button does

It removes the player from all gambling immediately and temporarily, for a period of 48 hours. After activation the player is automatically excluded from all of the operator's online platforms and cannot play during those 48 hours. The system also offers the option to apply for entry into the Register of Excluded Persons (RVO).

Where to find it

Directly in the user interface. The feature is meant for every registered player.

You can back up a decision to stop gambling formally. Under zákon č. 186/2016 Sb., every player may ask to be excluded from gambling and decide whether the exclusion should be temporary or permanent. You submit the request in your user account or directly through the operator.

Inclusion in the Register of Excluded Persons (RVO) has nationwide reach: it is valid for all gambling operators in the Czech Republic. Removal becomes possible after one year at the earliest.

The Czech Ministry of Finance is in charge of the Register of Excluded Persons (RVO) and keeps it in accordance with zákon č. 186/2016 Sb.

The register contains two groups of people:

1. players who have requested exclusion,
2. persons whom the law itself excludes, for example due to debt enforcement, insolvency or drawing certain benefits.

The operator accepts an application for entry in the user account; it can also be confirmed after activating the panic button. Other options are a message to the ministry's data box or filing in person at Czech POINT.

A person on the list may not gamble with any operator holding a Czech licence.

1. Gambling in the Czech Republic is available exclusively to people aged 18 and over (zákon č. 186/2016 Sb.).
2. The operator must verify the age and identity of everyone who wants to play, for example via BankID or another method.
3. Minors are not allowed to gamble; this is checked at registration and when winnings are paid out.

A quick check can show whether gambling is still under control. It draws on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Ask yourself:

1. Do you go over the amount you wanted to spend when you gamble?
2. Are you thinking about cutting down or restricting your gambling?
3. Do you feel guilty after gambling?
4. Do you keep playing only to wipe out a loss?
5. Are your duties or relationships being pushed into the background by gambling?
6. Have you been warned by people around you that something is wrong with your gambling?
7. Have you raised money for gambling by borrowing?

Take the result as indicative. This test does not replace a professional diagnosis. Anyone who answered yes to several questions should consider the prevention tools or contact specialists.

Feeling that gambling is no longer fun is a good reason to contact professionals. The following services help people with gambling addiction and act discreetly.

Společnost Podané ruce: podaneruce.cz
National Helpline for Addiction: 800 350 000, free of charge and anonymous
Clinic of Addictology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague: see adiktologie.cz

Send any enquiry concerning what this page says, or a request to add to it, to contact@fortuna-hra.cz.

In the Czech Republic, gambling is allowed only from 18 (18+).

The Ministry of Finance warns that participation in gambling may result in addiction.