For the last seven years, Albania has operated under a comprehensive ban on sports betting. Since 2019, all forms of gambling—betting halls, slot machines, and online gaming—have been prohibited. Despite this, the unregulated sports betting market in Albania generated an estimated gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $126 million last year, creating a potential opening for international operators, though it remains unclear how the transition back to a regulated environment will unfold.
In July, the Albanian government announced that it had finalized a new regulatory framework aiming to partially reopen the sports betting market. The new licensing process will welcome applications, allowing up to ten online operators to legally take bets from Albanian customers.
This move has been in the works for some time. As early as 2022, Prime Minister Edi Rama acknowledged that the betting economy was thriving online despite the prohibition. "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," he stated then.
Although legislation was passed to reopen the market in 2024, it has taken over two years to refine the details of this new regulatory framework. Several key questions remain, such as the start date for the licensing process and the exact number of licenses available, raising concerns about whether the prolonged ban has dampened public interest in betting.
The sports betting ban itself, enacted in 2018, came as Albania’s betting sector was generating around €700 million annually, predominantly through 4,000 betting shops catering to a population of just over 2.8 million.
Hendri Hanaj, a founding partner at Hashtag Lawyers, explained that the plethora of betting offices, many located near schools and neighborhoods, prompted the government's intervention. "There were a lot of betting offices in Albania – everywhere, near schools and in local neighborhoods," he shared. "The government was forced to do something because it was getting out of control."
The sharp rise of the betting sector raised alarms among politicians, triggering fears of addiction and negative repercussions for low-income households. Prime Minister Rama, also a former basketball player, expressed worries about the integrity of sports and alleged connections between some betting companies and organized crime, stating, "We are waging a frontal war with the evil entrenched deeply in our society over the years," during the parliamentary discussions before the ban.
In the aftermath of the prohibition, it became evident that betting had not vanished, but rather moved to unregulated platforms. Initial estimates from Gaming Compliance International (GCI) indicated that Albania's unregulated online sports betting market generated $117 million in 2024 and continued to grow to $126 million in 2025, with total unregulated online GGR reaching approximately $229 million when including online casino and poker activities.
As Albania's betting landscape shifts towards regulation, Prime Minister Rama has made it clear that he opposes the chaotic scenario of widespread retail betting prevalent before the ban. The new regulations will allow only online betting, as brick-and-mortar betting shops and slot halls remain prohibited, while casinos will be limited to select locations within five-star hotels.
The newly defined law permits “up to” ten licensees; however, the final number will be determined by the Licensing Commission. This controlled entry is likely to mean only a few operators will begin in this newly regulated space.
The Albanian government anticipates that the new betting framework could generate around ALL2 billion (€20 million) in annual public revenue, allocating 15% of GGR to a special fund dedicated to culture, sports, technology, and innovation.
Despite this outlook, Hanaj cautions that the enthusiasm for sports betting may have diminished over time. "There is an appetite for sports, but it has faded over time," he comments, noting that although gambling will resume, it might not reach previous levels of intensity. The online-only model, bolstered by digital payments, is expected to facilitate greater governmental oversight and control over the sector.
Integral to the new framework will be traceability and regulatory compliance. Players will need to register online using a national identity card, with cash betting prohibited. Payments must be processed through licensed Albanian banks or electronic money institutions. Operators are required to maintain transaction records for a minimum of three years and ensure adherence to a national self-exclusion register, allowing family members to request that relatives be barred from gambling activities.
Operators must also inform players about gambling risks and provide information on support resources, although Albania currently lacks dedicated counseling or rehabilitation facilities for gambling problems.
In June, the government established guidelines for the suspension and revocation of betting licenses, imposing strict penalties on operators who breach the regulations. Violators may face license suspension for a period of 30 days to two years, with a potential revocation for a third violation.
In terms of financial obligations, operators will face a 15% GGR tax and a standard 15% corporate tax, alongside local taxes and a minimum license fee set at ALL400 million (€4 million), to be paid in installments over a span of ten years.
Companies vying for entry in the Albanian market must meet stringent criteria, including registration as an Albanian joint-stock company, prior experience in at least three EU or OECD markets, a turnover exceeding ALL2 billion (€20 million) in the last fiscal year, and a minimum share capital of ALL40 million (€400,000). The licenses will be allocated based on a points system, taking into account factors such as license fee offers, gambling experience, governance structure, technology, and business planning.
Hanaj observes that these requirements likely favor larger international firms, noting, "There are a lot of conditions to get the license and no Albanian company, at least, would be able to meet them – or at least none that are interested in betting." The regulations stipulate that once the Licensing Commission initiates the application process, it must publish a call for applicants within a week, utilizing multiple platforms for visibility.
As of July 2026, two years post-approval for the market's partial reopening, all eight implementing regulations have been finalized. However, specifics about the timeline for implementation remain elusive, with the Ministry of Finance not responding to inquiries to provide clarity.
With Albania aiming for EU accession by around 2030, the licensing process could unfold within the next couple of years. Hanaj believes that the low startup costs and reasonable licensing fees may entice large international operators back into the betting landscape. Despite a decrease in population, which has dipped from 2.8 million to 2.75 million since betting peaked in 2018, Albania has demonstrated a tendency to defy economic expectations in various sectors.
Hanaj further notes, "There are around 12 banks in Albania and I don’t think the market supports that. But they are still here and still working."
