The Czech Ministry of Finance has warned the public about a growing number of fraudulent websites that impersonate licensed gambling brands.
A phenomenon known as “brand spoofing” is on the rise, where fraudsters create copies of websites belonging to legitimate betting companies or online casinos.
These fake websites typically look almost identical, including logos, colours and layout, use similar URL addresses with only minor changes in the domain name and attempt to steal login credentials entered by users.
According to available information from the Ministry of Finance, several brands of legal operators active in the Czech market have already been misused in this way.
Ministry of Finance warns that gambling with unlicesned operators carries significant risks, including the loss of funds deposited, no legal protection, non-payment of winnings and the risk of identity theft.
Players are advised not to click on links in unsolicited messages or advertisements, particularly on social media or email. The Ministry also recommends checking URLs carefully for subtle changes such as altered characters or different domain endings, and using unique passwords for gambling accounts.
Earlier, the Czech Football was hit by a match-fixing scandal. The local Police have charged 32 individuals in a corruption case involving football match-fixing for betting purposes, following a three-year investigation.
The accused face prosecution for offences including fraud, bribery and money laundering. Some individuals are alleged to have ties to an organised crime group, as confirmed by the Olomouc High Public Prosecutor’s Office (VSZ), which is overseeing the case.
The Czech Financial Administration recently reported that the total turnover of the gambling industry reached a record CZK 1.07tn ($52.10bn) in 2025, up 8.8% year-on-year
