For the past seven years, Albania has enforced a strict ban on sports betting. Since 2019, physical betting halls, slot venues, and any form of online gambling have been illegal. Despite this prohibition, the unregulated sports betting market generated approximately $126 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR) last year, raising the possibility of international operators finding a new avenue for business, though the extent of market capture remains uncertain.
In July, the Albanian government announced the finalization of a new regulatory framework aimed at partially reopening its sports betting market. Once licensing procedures are completed, the country may allow up to ten online operators to accept bets from its citizens.
The move to reopen the market is a significant development given the enduring popularity of betting despite its illegality in the country. Prime Minister Edi Rama noted back in 2022 that, even with the ban, Albania’s betting economy was “flourishing” in the shadows. “We are talking about taking this activity out of the black economy and bringing the profits into the light, because nobody can block it – not even China,” Rama stated.
Although legislation to reopen the market was passed in 2024, it took over two years to flesh out specific regulations. There remain several uncertainties regarding the process, including the timing of the first licensing round, the number of available licenses, and whether the prolonged stifling of the betting culture has reduced public interest.
The ban was initially imposed in 2018 amid growing concerns about the proliferation of betting in Albania, which was generating turnover of around €700 million annually with 4,000 betting shops for a population just over 2.8 million. “There were a lot of betting offices in Albania – everywhere, near schools and in local neighborhoods,” explained Hendri Hanaj, founder of Hashtag Lawyers. “The government was forced to act because it was getting out of control.”
The widespread nature of small-scale betting was alarming authorities, with fears of addiction and adverse effects on low-income families intensifying. Prime Minister Rama remarked before the ban, “We are waging a frontal war with the evil entrenched deeply in our society over the years.” Despite the prohibition, it became clear that gambling did not disappear but shifted to underground operations. According to estimates from Gambling Compliance International (GCI), the unregulated online sports betting market generated $117 million in 2024 and increased to $126 million in 2025.
In reinstating a legal framework, Rama has emphasized that the new market will be strictly regulated. Only online betting will be allowed; retail betting shops and slot halls remain banned, and the number of casinos is restricted to select five-star hotels.
Albania’s sports betting legislation will permit “up to” ten licensees, with the precise number determined by the Licensing Commission when the application process begins. The government anticipates generating around ALL2 billion (€20 million) annually from the new regime, with 15% of GGR allocated to a dedicated fund for culture, sport, technology, and innovation.
Hanaj expressed concerns that the years of prohibition may have dampened the public’s enthusiasm for sports betting. “There is an appetite for sports, but it has faded over time,” he noted. “People like my father, or my cousins who are older than me, like sports more. Of course, people will bet, but I don’t think it will be as massive as before.” The online-only format is designed to simplify government oversight and monitoring, as digital payments will be the norm.
Participants in the new market must comply with stringent regulations. Players are required to register online using a national identity card, while cash betting is banned. Payments will need to be processed by Albanian banks, licensed electronic money institutions, or payment providers. Operators will also be responsible for tracking transactions and retaining player records for a minimum of three years, enforcing a national self-exclusion register, and providing resources on gambling risks and support options.
In June, the government released guidelines regarding the suspension and revocation of betting licenses. Violations of licensing rules can lead to temporary suspensions of 30 days to two years, while three infractions can result in permanent license revocation. Alongside a 15% GGR tax, operators will pay the standard 15% corporate tax and local taxes, with a license fee starting at ALL400 million (€4 million).
Prospective operators will face stringent criteria, including registration as Albanian joint-stock companies, demonstrating experience in at least three EU or OECD markets, achieving a turnover of at least ALL2 billion (€20 million), and maintaining a minimum share capital of ALL40 million (€400,000).
Licenses will be allocated through a points-based system emphasizing factors such as bid amount, gambling experience, governance, technology, and proposed business plans. Hanaj believes these rigorous requirements may favor larger international companies over local operators.
A recent regulation stipulates that once the Licensing Commission announces the application process, it must publish a call for applications within a week, including notifications in international newspapers.
Despite the new framework’s completion being announced in July 2026, there remains ambiguity surrounding the timeline for implementation, with authorities providing little information on when the licensing process will officially commence. As Albania aims for EU accession by around 2030, the awarding of licenses could occur in the next couple of years, according to Hanaj. However, uncertainties linger about how many licenses will be granted and the sustainability of the legal market in supporting multiple operators.
While Albania’s population has decreased from 2.8 million to 2.75 million since the ban, and it remains a low-income nation, there’s still potential for profit in the gambling market, as demonstrated by its previous activity. The low initial costs of launching an Albanian-facing betting site may attract larger international operators eager to take advantage of the newly regulated environment.
