Albania is lifting its ban on sports betting after a five-year ban introduced in 2018.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Socialist Party introduced a ban on regulated gambling, except for state-approved casinos, five years ago in a bid to combat organized crime in Albania.

In 2022, Rama began to backtrack on the decision and announced that the government was preparing to lift the ban. This comes as statistics show that criminal gangs continue to thrive and underground gambling poses a greater threat to the economy than ever before.

During public hearings with Albanian sports federations in 2022, Rama stated the following: “It is a pity that these activities are carried out by lawbreakers and high-ranking members of organized crime are actively involved in them, making unjustified profits.”

The new resolution to lift the betting ban has received significant support from the Albanian Parliament. The changes only allow online sports betting. The market will be controlled by 10 companies that are regulated by the License Commission. 

According to the new law, online sports betting is only permitted on specialized, authorized and controlled websites, applications or electronic platforms licensed in accordance with the provisions of the law, excluding track racing.

“The Licensing Commission develops and proposes programs dedicated to the protection of players, which are approved by a joint order of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Social Affairs.”

The head of the civil defense group Civil Resistance, Riegels Krzemollari, called the decision “stupid.”

“Unfortunately, 72 MPs voted today for the ‘renewal of stupidity’, a law that reinstates ‘death’, the impact of crime in sports betting and the social drama of people suffering from addiction,” Krzemollari said.

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