Illegal gambling hall in Prague 10. After our questions, things started to move
photo: Markéta Šálková, PrahaIN.cz/Newly established gaming place in Prague 10
On Friday, we published a text about a newly established gambling hall in Prague 10. A resident of the city drew attention to it on the Vršovická parta Facebook page. We visited the place repeatedly. Specifically, it was closed on November 22. A day later there was already a sign on the door saying that it was open from 14:00 to 02:00. However, the door was locked.
The next day, November 23, we visited the game room again. This time we couldn’t get in. We learned that you can play on the spot, but the staff didn’t have any information about what exactly the machines were there. She advised us that for the next entrance it is enough to knock really hard.
We were trying to find out who was running the game room. However, we did not succeed. Unlike the other game places in Vršovice, it is not marked in any way. We didn’t even look through the list of companies.
We asked for a reaction from the former councilor who was in charge of security and gambling, namely Michal Kočí (Pirates) and his party colleague Jana Komrsková. Furthermore, the current deputy mayor Radek Lojda from TOP 09. He did not respond to questions at all.
Although Michal Kočí did not comment on the deadline when we asked, his subsequent information revealed a big surprise.
The casino is illegal
“On November 22 and 23, 2022, a local investigation was carried out at the intersection of Vršovická x Petrohradská Streets (entrance from Vršovická Street 32),” said Kočí in our editorial office.
“As it was discovered on the spot, the operation of the game room started on November 23, 2022. There are ten pieces of gaming devices inside the establishment. However, this is an illegal gaming room,” he said.
“In view of the fact that the Prague 10 district ensures passive surveillance and from the local investigation, it follows that the facts of the violation of the generally binding decree no. m of Prague, which is defined by the conditions for operating gambling games on the territory of Prague and the violation of certain provisions of Act No. 186/2016 Coll., on gambling, a notification will be made to the Customs Office for the capital city of Prague, which is competent in this matter to carry out control actions, possibly other procedures. This initiative will also be sent to the Ministry of Finance, the State Supervision of Betting Games and Lotteries,” added Kočí for PrahaIN.cz.
The former councilor and current representative also stated that “the operation of the last gambling hall will be terminated on the basis of the expiry of the permit on Thursday 7 March 2024. After that, Prague 10 will be completely without gambling halls and casinos.” That is, ten years after when 83 percent of those who participated in the referendum voted for the introduction of zero tolerance for gambling in 2014.”