Ticket Dealer

SAZKA, joint stock company, was established in 1956. With more than CZK 8 milliard revenues and growing profit, SAZKA, a.s., is the largest domestic operator of number and instant lotteries, it also remains one of the largest bookmakers. Its range of services includes also non-lottery activities such as recharging credits to cell phones or selling tickets for sport and cultural events. The company focuses on the Czech market and works with many leading foreign suppliers. SAZKA, a.s., is a full member of two largest and most significant international lottery organizations: European Lotteries (EL) and World Lottery Association (WLA). The company’s number one goal is to provide financial support for Czech sport and physical education out of the proceeds from the lotteries and games it runs. In addition to sponsoring sport and physical education, SAZKA, a.s., also contributes to significant social, cultural, and charity projects while reserving enough resources to help health care. In 2003, the company’s contribution amounted CZK 1.052 milliard (altogether CZK 8.072 milliard from 1994 to 2003).

 

Web portal www.sazkaticket.cz came into being as one of many products in connection with the construction and subsequent operation of O2 arena multifunctional facility in Prague. The portal opened just before Christmas 2003 and its visitors showed an unprecedented interest in its services from the very outset. It happened, undoubtedly, due to the fact that the web site offered the tickets for the upcoming 2004 IIHF World Championship for sale. User-friendly booking system, clear price categories and the possibility to find exact location of required seats in the hall allowed each buyer to book tickets according to his wish and financial possibilities. The experience gained during the Ice Hockey Championship is now used for offering the tickets for other sport and cultural events held in O2 arena.

 

SAZKA, a.s., began offering the tickets for the 2004 IIHF World Championship also through the on-line terminals network at its points of sale in late January 2004. Most of the ticket packages were sold out within several hours through more than 7.000 SAZKA, a.s., sales outlets located primarily at the Czech Post Office, news-stands, tobacconists, petrol stations and retail chains. Sale through the company’s on line terminals network provides an equal access to the tickets for all interested parties throughout the Czech Republic, both in great conurbations and townships or villages. There is no need to travel anywhere and stand in long queues at the ticket offices beforehand. The extensive sales network is a guarantee for the promoters and organizers that they will be able to sell many more tickets than with any traditional method, i.e. through box offices and a limited number of advance sale counters.

 

The potential of the SAZKA TICKET network can be shown in the sale of tickets for the 2004 IIHF World Championship, which achieved the biggest attendance ever. Altogether 552.097 tickets, of which 422.699 for the matches played in O2 arena in Prague and 129.398 tickets for the games played in ČEZ ARENA in Ostrava, were sold through the SAZKA TICKET network, i.e. via Internet, call centre, on-line terminals and O2 arena box offices.

 

The objective of the SAZKA TICKET network is not to confine itself only to the sale of tickets for the events held in O2 arena. Developing cooperation with the promoters will allow booking the tickets also for the events held in other regions and facilities in the Czech Republic through www.sazkaticket.cz portal and SAZKA, a.s., points of sale.