First international operator receives sportsbook licence in Czech Republic

ne sportsbook BetStars has become the first international company to obtain an online gaming licence under the Czech Republic’s new regulated regime.

According to local news outlets, BetStars – the sport betting brand of The Stars Group - has entered the list published by the Ministry of Finance which details all licensed providers of eGaming services in the country.

The online sports betting firm follow in the footsteps of its sister brand PokerStars that entered the Czech Republic’s poker market earlier this year, becoming the first international operator to obtain such a licence.

BetStars has been active since 2015, when its parent company, Canadian gambling giant The Stars Group, launched this sportsbook in order to expand its footprint across other online gambling verticals. The release of the company’s sports betting division was followed by the roll-out of casino games.

The new Czech Gambling Law that came into effect as of January 1 2017, introducing a 35% tax on annual revenues, forced major gambling operators such as William Hill or GVC Holdings to exit the market.

With many operators withdrawing, The Stars Group has applied for both online poker and sports betting licences and it is set to dominate the market.