Albania’s parliament has voted to overturn a ban on online sports betting that was introduced in 2018.
Albania Overturns Ban on Online Sports BettingThe specifics of the law states that
“online sports bets are bets placed on dedicated, authorized, and monitorable websites, applications, or electronic platforms of licensed entities”
The law excludes track races while also mandates the Licensing Commission to develop player protection programs, subject to approval by ministers.
Albania Overturns Ban on Online Sports BettingPrime Minister Rama’s initial suggestion to reintroduce online gambling in September 2022 faced criticism from experts and political adversaries alike. Rama attributed his shift in stance to the persistence of gambling activities despite the ban enforced by his own party.
The ban on gambling in 2018, spearheaded by the Socialist Party, aimed to sever alleged ties between the industry and criminal syndicates. However, the subsequent surge in illegal gambling prompted the complete ban which came into effect on January 1st, 2019. Previous government efforts, such as the 2013 “End of the Madness” operation and subsequent legislative measures in 2015, failed to restrict the illegal gambling market.
Acknowledging the challenges of banning online gambling and citing expert advice, Rama proposed its regulated return which has now been approved.
There have been no indications which sports betting operators will enter the Albanian market.
