The Institute for Gambling Regulation in the Czech Republic has recently launched a new data-sharing framework to monitor player activity across licensed operators. The initiative aims to reduce annual financial losses from unlicensed gambling and standardize harm prevention measures.
The institute currently represents approximately 95 percent of the regulated market. According to IPRH director Jan Řehola, the organization functions as a collaborative platform for operators, regulators, addiction specialists, and behavioral economists rather than a traditional lobbying body. Recent market analysis indicates illegal gambling reduces annual tax revenue by $15.9 million, while players lose roughly CZK 14.5 billion each year with unlicensed providers.
IRIS Data Framework
The IRIS project tracks player behavior across multiple platforms using pseudonymised identifiers issued by the Czech state licensing system. Operators do not exchange personal names or account information. The platform evaluates behavioral indicators, applies a standardized risk classification, and delivers the resulting category to each participating company."At the core of IRIS is a simple idea. We look at gambling from the perspective of the player, not the operator," Řehola notes. The system addresses situations where a single provider may issue a warning while another simultaneously offers promotional bonuses to the same individual.
The framework relies on shared behavioral metrics to align protection strategies across the market.
This collaborative approach aligns with broader developments in European gambling oversight, where shared data models are increasingly used to address cross-border player behavior and online harm.