Modernization of the gambling reporting system at the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic

The Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic (MFCR) encountered several technical and procedural limitations in the management and processing of data in the AISG AM system (AISG Analytical Module) for reporting in the gambling industry.

The main difficulties included:

Limitations in the efficiency of the existing architecture

• The system showed delays in processing data, particularly in the case of large packages from gambling operators (GO).

The need for greater scalability and adaptability

• The existing data warehouse (DWH) was not fully prepared for the growing volume of data or for the new requirements arising from the new decree (Act No. 349/2023 Sb.), such as support for online live games or daily reporting.

Technical and procedural limitations

• The use of proprietary tools and the existing DWH structure made it difficult to generate reports, resulting in longer data mart conversion times. As for Communication Interface (CI), it was necessary to ensure the flexibility of adjustments in connection with the change in legislation.

Legislative and operating requirements

• It was necessary to ensure compliance with the upcoming amendment to the Decree, to increase the efficiency of reporting, and to simplify administrative processes for operators and government authorities, while at the same time maintaining compliance with GDPR and cybersecurity (Act No. 18/2014 Sb.).

MFCR was looking for a solution that would streamline data processing, increase scalability, and facilitate adaptation to new legislative requirements.

SOLUTION / COOPERATION WITH PRINCIPAL

Principal engineering s.r.o. was selected in an open tender by the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic to conduct a thorough analysis of the AISG AM system and to design the target architecture for its modernization. Principal's role involved:

An analysis of the current situation

• Principal carried out a detailed analysis of the processes, data model, and efficiency of the AISG AM system on the basis of technical documentation, access to databases and workshops with the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, other users of the system, and the operator of the solution, SPCSS, s.p. It identified bottlenecks and key areas for improvement.

Designing the target architecture

• Principal designed new DWH architecture with layers L0 (Stage), L1 (Core), and L2 (Data marts), which includes data historization (SCD2), incremental processing, and a change in the DWH framework. It recommended switching to a more powerful database platform and optimizing processes for faster processing and reporting.

Transition plan

• Principal developed a detailed implementation schedule. It proposed steps to ensure compliance with the new decree, including modifications to the communication interface (CI) and corresponding modifications to non-production environments.

Expertise and coordination

• Principal worked closely with representatives of the Ministry of Finance and of SPCSS at a series of workshops (26.3.2025 - 23.4.2025), where it discussed requirements, legislative amendments, and technical possibilities. Principal's expertise in DWH, data modelling, and process optimization made it possible to design a solution that is tailored to the specific needs of the Czech Ministry of Finance.

Support at the planning stage

• Principal provided recommendations for the schedule of legislative changes and identified risks when ensuring the change arising from the new decree.

Cooperation with Principal engineering was beneficial as a result of Principal's ability to quickly identify key limitations, design a scalable solution, and coordinate complex requirements among different stakeholders.

RESULT / IMPACT

Cooperation with Principal engineering brought the following results:

Thorough analysis and identification of challenges/limitations

• Principal mapped out the current state of AISG AM in detail, revealing key areas for improvement, such as streamlining data processing and introducing historicization.

Designing a sustainable solution

• The target architecture designed, with layers L1 (Core) and L2 (Data marts) and incremental data processing, will ensure that the processing of packages from GO is more efficient, will reduce delays, and will improve the availability of data for reporting.

Supporting legislative compliance

• The proposal takes into account the requirements of the new decree and will make it easier for GO to transition to the new standards as a result of compatibility with the new data formats.

Improving reporting processes

• The new architecture will facilitate the faster generation of reports thanks to precalculated aggregations and optimized data models, significantly shortening the data mart conversion time.

Minimizing risks

• The identification of risks and the design of pilot operation will ensure a smooth transition to the new solution without any interruption of operation.

Long-term sustainability

• The proposed solution is scalable and ready for future data growth, which will ensure the long-term efficiency of the AISG AM system.

CLIENT'S PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION

"In light of our successful cooperation and the professional approach of Principal engineering s.r.o., we recommend their services to other organizations. Principal's expertise in data warehousing, process optimization, and the coordination of complex projects helped us identify key challenges and design an effective and sustainable solution that meets stringent legislative and technical requirements. Principal engineering is a reliable partner for projects requiring of profound technical expertise and an agile approach."

Ing. Tomáš Červ
Enterprise architekt MF

Ing. Václav Pirkl, MBA
ředitel odboru Řízení rozvoje ICT