Gambling Laws in Kosovo
Gambling in Kosovo is considered to be illegal in all its variety. The
Kosovar gambling laws, in particular, the
Law on the Prohibition of Games of Chance from 28 March of 2019, is the main regulatory act of all land-based and online gambling activities in the country. Under this legislation, most forms of gambling are banned for at least 10 years, with the exception of the lottery. Furthermore, and as Article 4 of the
Law on Games of Chance prohibited online gambling in Kosovo, it is assumed that this is also banned.
The Kosovo Tax Administration (TAK) which was, until 2019, the body responsible for supervising and regulating all gambling activities in the country, has announced that every license is officially revoked since the 10th of May.
According to the
Kosovar gambling laws, minors under 18 years of age are prohibited from participating in any gambling activity.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Kosovo?
No, all forms of online gambling were previously banned by the Law on Games of Chance. |
Online Casinos in Kosovo
Until 2019, land-based gambling was permitted under a license. However,
online casino sites in Kosovo have always been illegal, though gamblers are able to access offshore platforms without fearing prosecution. And on those, they are offered a wide variety of casino games, along with several opportunities.
Online Poker in Kosovo
Live poker is considerably popular in Kosovo and, until 2019, it was part of the offer of the only casino in the country. On the other hand,
online poker sites in Kosovo have been illegal for a while now. But considering the new law, more players are expected to join international platforms that offer them the possibility of competing in the largest rooms in the world.
Online Lottery in Kosovo
The Lottery of Kosovo (Lotaria e Kosovës) is the state-licensed provider for all lotto games in the country. However, and although the Government has stated that the national lottery will continue its operations, as of September 2019, it is still unclear what is the future of the company considering the new law. And despite the fact that
online lotto sites in Kosovo are illegal, these platforms are the only way Kosovars can now pay the lottery.
Online Bingo in Kosovo
Although bingo has found popularity in some Balkan countries, especially through its televised version, the same did not happen in Kosovo. And now things will be even more difficult due to the new law that banned most forms of gambling. But as the authorities have not been prosecuting online players, offshore
online bingo sites in Kosovo will still be available.
Online Sports Betting in Kosovo
Sports betting is very popular in Kosovo. However, the new law closed all the land-based betting shops in the country, which means there will be more Kosovars placing bets through international
online sportsbook sites in Kosovo. Although online gambling is illegal, there are no reports of players being prosecuted.
Online DFS in Kosovo
Online DFS sites in Kosovo are not legally regulated. There is an ongoing debate on the status of this type of game, but considering the general ban on online gambling, it is possible that the game would not be considered legal either.