Moving to Czech for Poker and Betting?!

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03-23-2018 , 03:31 PM

MrFabulous

grinder

Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 527

Hi,
if this is the wrong sub forum please move

I am looking forward to move my permanent residence to Prague.

I am a professional sports bettor and live poker player.

Has somebody moved there and can give me some insights regarding the legal and tax situation?

So far I am betting at a broker (Pinnaclesports, ******, SingBet etc.). The broker said I am still allowed to bet with their software. They are operating under Malta legal regulations.

But I have heard betting in Czech Republic is only allowed at licensed operators. So what now? What can happen? Am I free to go?

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03-23-2018 , 04:33 PM

Pinkmann

old hand

Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,487

If you are:

EU citizen - enjoy your tax and visa free stay and you will need a vpn most likely for any site that isnt pokerstars

Not EU - Find and pay someone to do your immigration paperwork, plenty of people here do this full time. You come as a tourist typically and apply for a 6 month visa, then 1 or 2 year ones after that. Its not impossible, but its very annoying. Taxes aren't a huge concern though, you might owe some but not alot. Also you might have trouble getting on pokerstars cz, so keep your current accounts you already use for online gambling and maybe use a vpn. Legal online gambling options are almost non existent.

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03-23-2018 , 05:33 PM

TheOffice

journeyman

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 318

Sportmarket? I'd be surprised, if they were even legal in Malta.

Permanent residence in the Czech Republic is not suitable for sports betting purposes, forget it. What can happen? Depends on what they'll try to f*** you over with, if any public prosecutor cares enough to follow up.

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03-23-2018 , 06:36 PM

MrFabulous

grinder

Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 527

@pinkmann
I am EU. But even with VPN sooner or later I have to cashout on a Czech bank account, so that is not an option. Also VPN can get you into closing your account. So I dont know if this is a good way.

@TheOffice
They claim they are legal under Malta regulation. Why do you say they are not?
Do you have experience with them? I thought sports betting in Czech has the same status as poker. It is gambling and tax free? Am I wrong here?

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03-24-2018 , 03:48 AM

Pinkmann

old hand

Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,487

Cashout to non cz bank, transfer euros with no fees to cz account.

You are EU and self employed, meaning you can move in and no one will care. Its when you need permission to stay they want some tax money, that or work a real job.

Your biggest issue is a vpn. I would be surprised if you could just login to your betting sites with no issue here since they have all shut down service within the country. If you are not willing to VPN then either find a new occupation when you come here, or move to a more gambling friendly country.

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03-25-2018 , 06:38 PM

MrFabulous

grinder

Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 527

Which country would you advise?

I am not playing Online Poker that much, so losing them would not be a problem.

I am more looking where I can live from sportsbetting and live poker tax-free.

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03-25-2018 , 11:05 PM

iLiveInAsia

grinder

Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 468

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOffice

Sportmarket? I'd be surprised, if they were even legal in Malta.

They're not in the licensee directory for what it's worth: https://mgalicenseeregister.mga.org.mt/

I guess they could argue that they're just an intermediary but it's still sketchy territory.

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03-26-2018 , 03:52 AM

Pinkmann

old hand

Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,487

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrFabulous

Which country would you advise?

I am not playing Online Poker that much, so losing them would not be a problem.

I am more looking where I can live from sportsbetting and live poker tax-free.

Pick any EU country that didnt ban all the gambling sites. All you need to do is email you sports betting sites and ask them where you are allowed to login and gamble from. Pick from that list.

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03-27-2018 , 04:44 PM

MrFabulous

grinder

Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 527

Germany for instance did not ban the sites. You are allowed to play. But having only Poker and Betting income will be taxed sooner or later. So that argument isnt valid.

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03-27-2018 , 04:51 PM

#10

MrFabulous

grinder

Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 527

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOffice

Sportmarket? I'd be surprised, if they were even legal in Malta.

They replied:
“We do not hold a gaming license in Malta as it is not possible for this type of business but we have met with LGA (the lottery authority in Malta) and they didn’t see that our business could not be operated from Malta. We do hold a gaming license in another jurisdiction (outside EU) but we are not currently using that one as we are not laying any parts of any bets.“
“We are regulated at Malta from where we legally operate our business without any issues. All the accounts that we posses are company ones and Banks/eWallets are protecting all the funds there. “

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03-28-2018 , 07:55 AM

#11

TheOffice

journeyman

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 318

Well, they're unlicensed, that's the bottom line. What they say isn't really relevant to the Czechs, French, Spanish, etc. and even the LGA might turn around once their model is put to a real test.

Is poker/betting a full- time plan for the long-term future? Then I wouldn't chance it in any of those places.

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03-30-2018 , 10:03 AM

#12

MrFabulous

grinder

Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 527

Yes, should be long-term future.

So what place would you choose?

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03-30-2018 , 11:34 AM

#13

Pinkmann

old hand

Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,487

Look into Croatia, Hungary, Romania imo

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03-30-2018 , 05:28 PM

#14

MrFabulous

grinder

Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 527

East Europe doesn´t sound safe to me

Czech border was already a close option.

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03-30-2018 , 05:42 PM

#15

MrFabulous

grinder

Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 527

I am also looking overseas. Like Curacao or Virgin Islands etc.

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