The aim of the article is to contribute to an understanding of the attitudes of post-communist Europe's inhabitants towards gambling, and of their opinions concerning which activities can be regarded as gambling. The Attitudes Towards Gambling Scale (ATGS-8) questionnaire was used in the survey, ensuring the international comparability of the results. For the subsequent in-depth analysis of attitudes we mainly used multidimensional statistical methods. The survey, conducted in 2017, had 1092 respondents. The least negative attitudes to gambling were found in the younger age groups, while the attitudes of senior citizens were the most negative. Concerning participation in gambling, 68.4% of the respondents had taken part in at least one of the range of gambling activities offered as choices. Participation in gambling is an important factor influencing the overall attitude of the respondents to gambling. Of equal importance was the range of intensity in their perceptions of which games can be considered to be gambling, with four similarly perceived types of gambling identified. The research shows that gambling is perceived negatively by the population of the Czech Republic. The explanation may be found in the substantial media coverage of gambling related to changes in the legislation and the tightening of restrictions.

• Klíčová slova
• Attitude, Central and Eastern Europe, Gambling, Questionnaire, Subtypes,
• MeSH
• hráčství psychologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• návykové chování psychologie   MeSH
• postoj ke zdraví * MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• socioekonomické faktory MeSH
• veřejné mínění MeSH
• životní styl * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

AIM: To provide an overview of gambling and associated problems in the Czech Republic, including an overview of the historical context, legislation, prevalence, treatment and research base and agenda. METHODS: A review of literature and relevant sources. RESULTS: The trajectory of gambling patterns in the territory of the Czech Republic in the 20th century reflected broad socio-political changes. Those included significant expansion between the wars, strict state control and bans on some gambling activities during the communist regime and finally dynamic development characterized by a boom in electronic gaming machines (EGMs) and increasing accessibility of gambling facilities after 1989, which aggravated gambling-related problems. Many municipalities have banned EGMs, which has created conflict in regulation at state and municipal levels. The draft gambling law prepared in 2014 aims to clarify the regulatory framework. Before 2012 there was only sporadic research interest in gambling, but in 2012 the first complex research on gaming and problem gambling in the Czech population took place. The estimated prevalence of problem gambling is currently 2% in the population aged 15-64 years. Preventive measures, counselling and treatment services for problem gamblers are limited. CONCLUSIONS: Weak and ineffective regulation of the gambling market in the Czech Republic during the past 20 years, despite the large growth in gambling, has led to inadequate prevention and response to problem gambling which has become a considerable public health, social and political issue.

• Klíčová slova
• Czech Republic, gambling, prevalence, problem gambling, regulation, research, treatment,
• MeSH
• behaviorální výzkum * dějiny   trendy   MeSH
• dějiny 18. století MeSH
• dějiny 20. století MeSH
• dějiny 21. století MeSH
• dějiny starověku MeSH
• dějiny středověku MeSH
• hráčství * epidemiologie   dějiny   terapie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• návykové chování * epidemiologie   dějiny   terapie   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• Check Tag
• dějiny 18. století MeSH
• dějiny 20. století MeSH
• dějiny 21. století MeSH
• dějiny starověku MeSH
• dějiny středověku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• historické články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH