Czech Republic citizens may soon be enjoying legalized online gambling, thanks to a new law that will see five of the country’s top gambling operators receive licenses to offer services online. These companies and interested bodies have been lobbying the government for years to allow the industry to grow online, guaranteeing that all the necessary steps will be taken to protect minors and problem gamblers.

“We are sad and bitter that foreign internet betting companies are allowed to operate in the Czech Republic without any control,” said Tomas Bahnik, executive at Fortuna, one of the top gambling companies in the country. “There is no legal restriction. So basically they operate in this country illegally. So we want to have the same opportunities as foreign companies.”

It is believed that the five chosen companies will receive their operating licenses in the first week of January 2009.