Back in January, reports indicated that the Czech Republic would begin offering online gambling licenses and now that the reports have become reality, The Prague Post says that there have been effects that were unforeseen.

"But an increase in online betting has led to a shift in the gambling business, as many customers prefer to gamble in the comfort of their own homes. Many of the country's largest betting companies, such as Tipsport, which owns 1,020 shops in the Czech Republic, are now planning to close dozens of locations," reported the Post.

According to a spokesperson from Tipsport, one of the license holders, in the three months since online gambling licenses have been offered, the company has seen its reliance on internet gaming increase to 30 percent—and that number will only rise.

Another company that holds license, Fortuna, has seen its online gambling numbers contributing 25 percent of its business and by the same token, has also seen its betshop business decrease by 5 percent.

Shops that aren't seeing significant business to begin with will be closing said Tomáš Bahník, a Fortuna spokesperson.

"We will optimize our branch offices system in the long term," Bahník told the Prague Post.

"We will reduce the number of offices to work more effectively."

According to the Czech Republic's finance ministry, gambling is an industry that brings in a lot of revenue; it brought in excess of 108 billion Kc in 2007 said the Post.