Gambling Laws in Albania
Online gambling in Albania is considered to be illegal in all its variety. The
Albanian gambling laws, in particular, the
Law No. 75/2018 On Several Amendments and Changes to Law No. 155/2015 On Gambling in the Republic of Albania, published in the Official Gazette no. 163, on 15/11/2018, is the main regulatory act of all land-based and online gambling activities in the country. Under this legislation, most forms of gambling became illegal, with the exception of large scale casinos, the national lottery, small betting shops, and televised bingo.
The regulatory body in the country is the Albanian Gambling Supervision Authority (GSA), which has now been suspended for restructuration. And according to the
Albanian gambling laws, minors under 18 years of age are prohibited to participate in any gambling activities.
Online Casinos in Albania
Since 2019 that
online casino sites in Albania are illegal. As the country faced allegations of organized crime and money laundering, the Government has decided to pose restrictions to all forms of gambling, mainly the prohibition of digital platforms. However, there are some websites that specifically target the country’s gamblers, who are also able to access offshore operators.
Online Poker in Albania
In recent years, poker has become one of the most popular forms of gambling in the country’s casinos. Although there are no specific
Albanian online poker laws, the general regulations apply and online poker is also considered to be illegal in the country. However, as of July 2019, there are some
online poker sites in Albania that accept Albanian players.
Online Lottery in Albania
Lotaria Kombëtare is the state-licensed provider for all sorts of
lotto games in Albania. Since 2012 the lottery has developed a close collaboration with Austrian Novomatic and in April 2013 they launched their first product, the game Loto “6 nga 39” (Loto “6 out of 39”). However, and mainly due to the recent legislation, there is still no
online lotto sites in Albania, though players can access offshore platforms.
Online Bingo in Albania
Although there are no specific
Albanian online bingo laws, the regulations derived from
Law No. 75/2018 On Several Amendments and Changes to Law No. 155/2015 On Gambling in the Republic of Albania serve as a basic legal framework. As a result, online bingo games are illegal in the country. However, and despite the authorities’ efforts to block them, players are able to access foreign
online bingo sites.
Online Sports Betting in Albania
Online sports betting in Albania is also mainly regulated by the
Law No. 75/2018 On Several Amendments and Changes to Law No. 155/2015 On Gambling in the Republic of Albania. This means that
online sportsbook sites in Albania are illegal, although bettors can access offshore platforms. And some of them target specifically the Albanian market.
Online DFS in Albania
Online DFS sites in Albania are not legally regulated. There is an ongoing debate on the status of this type of game, but considering the ban on online gambling, it is possible that the game would not be considered legal either.
