After the blanket ban in 2018, the parliament of Albania has voted to reinstate online gambling.
The new legalization permits ten designated companies vetted by a specialized “Commission of Licenses” to manage online-only sports betting. This is in charge of setting out the criteria for election.
The new law specifies online sports bets are bets placed on dedicated, authorized, and monitorable websites, applications or electronic platforms of licensed entities, in accordance with the provisions of this law, for sports events and/or games and do not include track races.
The licensing commission designs and proposes programs dedicated to protecting players, which the minister responsible for finance and the minister responsible for social affairs jointly approve.
Opposition MPs strongly dissented, creating tension during the parliamentary session surrounding the passage of this legislation. Rigels Xhemollari represents the Tirana-based Qendresa Qytetare or Citizens’ Resistance organization. He criticized the move, referencing the Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania. His previous characterization of gambling as detrimental to society.
Xhemollari added that unfortunately, 72 MPs voted today for the ‘The Resumption of Stupidity,’ a law that restores ‘Death,’ according to PM Edi Rama in 2015, the influence of crime in sports betting, and the social drama of people who have addictions.
In September 2022, Prime Minister Rama’s suggestion to reintroduce online gambling faced considerable backlash from experts and political opponents alike. In spite of the initial ban enacted by the governing Socialist Party in 2018, he highlighted the challenge of curbing online gambling effectively, citing ongoing illicit activities and the involvement of organized crime elements.
Last 2013, the government targeted the illegal gambling market with an operation called ‘End of the Madness’. In 2015, they passed a law intended to reduce this activity. But gambling flourished even more after the adoption of the new law. This prompted the government to impose a complete ban in 2018.
