The Czech Republic's biggest bookies could be close to landing online gambling licenses says Czech radio.

According to a Radio Praha report, the Czech Republic's top five bookmakers could be granted permits to offer services after many lobby efforts and promises of youth gambling prevention.

"We are sad and bitter that foreign internet betting companies are allowed to operate in the Czech Republic without any control," explained Tomáš Bahník of the Fortuna Group, one of the prospective companies.

"There is no legal restriction. So basically they operate in this country illegally. So we want to have the same opportunities as foreign companies."

One of the biggest reasons that the Czech government has been reluctant to offer online gambling so far is the possibility of problem gambling amongst those who are underage but Bahník explained to Radio Praha how safeguards would be implemented.

"This is very strict and well monitored, in contrast with foreign internet companies," Bahník said.

"Every person, including teenagers, can use internet betting without control. Our main goal is to control this situation. If someone wants to bet through Fortuna on internet, they must register in a bricks and mortar office and show their ID."

"Only then they are allowed to play. We don’t accept credit cards but only regular payment cards because we don’t support gambling and gamblers and we don’t want people to become addicted to internet betting."