Online Casino Albania

Albania has gone through a difficult path from the heyday of the gambling business to its almost complete liquidation and now to gradual rehabilitation and digital regulation.

The country, formerly known as one of the largest Balkan betting markets, has imposed severe restrictions on all forms of gambling since 2019. However, in recent years the government has recognised the potential of controlled online gambling and has begun a phased legalisation of online casinos and bookmakers.

History and legislative framework

Gambling activity in Albania began to develop actively after 2000, and by 2018 there were more than 4,000 gambling halls and hundreds of betting points in the country.

However, the growth of dependence, illegal halls and corruption led to tough measures:

In 2018, Parliament approved the Law No. 155/2015 on Games of Chance" with amendments providing for a complete ban on all land casinos, machine rooms and betting points, except for one - the state casino in a five-star hotel in Tirana.
In 2019, the law came into force, and more than 90% of gambling facilities were closed.
Control is entrusted to the Ministry of Finance and Economics (Ministria e Financave dhe Ekonomisö) and the National Gambling Control Agency (Autoriteti i Mbiköqyrjes sö Lojörave tö Fatit - AMLF).

A new era: a return to regulation

In 2023, the Albanian government, under the leadership of Edi Rama, approved a new roadmap for legalizing online gambling.

In 2024, a draft law was adopted providing for:

legalization of online casinos, betting and poker;
issuing licenses under the supervision of AMLF;
strict player identification (KYC) requirements;
mandatory integration with the real-time state control system;
tough measures against money laundering and addiction.

Full legalization is expected in 2025, which will be a new stage in the development of the country's gambling industry.

Licensing

So far, licenses have been issued only to the national lottery (Lotaria Kombotare) and the only casino "Admiral Casino Tirana."

The following license categories will be introduced for online gambling:

1. Online casinos and RNG games;

2. Sports betting (including eSports);

3. Online poker;

4. Lotteries and instant games.

Basic conditions for operators:

registration of a legal entity in Albania;
minimum capital - €1.2 million;
security deposit - €500,000;
placement of servers in the country;
software and safety system certification;
mandatory participation in Responsible Gaming.

License term: 10 years.

Online gambling

Online gambling is technically prohibited until 2025, but players actively use foreign platforms with EU licenses (Malta, Curacao, Gibraltar).

Popular sites among Albanian users:

Bet365, 1xBet, Stake, Betano, 22Bet, Fairspin, BC. Game, Pin-Up.

Land-based casinos

After the closure of all casinos in 2019, the only legal establishment is

Admiral Casino Tirana, located at the Maritim Plaza Tirana.

It serves VIP clients and foreign tourists by offering poker, roulette, slots and private playrooms.

In the future, the government plans to allow the opening of tourist casino zones in Durres, Vlore and Shkodra - following the example of Croatia and Montenegro.

Taxation

Albania intends to create one of the most stringent but transparent taxation systems for operators.

Type of activity	Rate
Online gambling (after legalization)	15% GGR
Land-based casinos	25% GGR
Lotteries	20% GGR
Corporate tax	15%

Optional:

2% of income - to the Responsible Gaming fund;
0.5% - to finance sports and social programs.

Players will not be taxed on winnings if playing at licensed operators.

Payment methods

The main currency is Albanian lek (ALL), but online gambling will also be carried out in euros.

The following methods are planned to be supported:

Visa, MasterCard, Maestro;
Skrill, Neteller, Revolut, ecoPayz;
Apple Pay, Google Pay;
bank transfers (Credins Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, Raiffeisen Albania);
cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, USDT) - under the supervision of AML.

Responsible play

The Responsible Gaming principle will become a prerequisite for licensing.

The system will include:

age limit 21 +;
identity checks and deposit limits;
the possibility of self-exclusion and family prohibition;
hotline and help center under the Ministry of Health;
mandatory display of dependency warnings.

A national register of players participating in self-restraint programs will be created.

Economic importance

Before the ban in 2018, gambling brought:

about €130 million in taxes annually;
10,000 jobs;
significant investment in sports and media.

After the market closed, thousands of workers lost their jobs, and the state lost more than €50 million in annual revenues.

The return to a regulated market is designed to restore the balance and legalize revenues that today go into the shadows.

Challenges and challenges

The main challenges for the Albanian market:

the fight against illegal online platforms;
introduction of a modern licensing system;
control of crypto payments and AML procedures;
building a culture of responsible play.

The government is working with EU and Maltese Gambling Commission (MGA) experts to develop a modern regulatory model.

Development prospects

Albania is preparing to return to the European map of the iGaming industry.

Key development directions for 2025-2026:

launching legal online casinos and betting;
creation of a national real-time monitoring platform;
opening licensed casino zones on the coast;
introduction of crypto-gambling and blockchain certification.

Due to its favorable location, low taxes and growing interest of investors, Albania has every chance of becoming a new promising jurisdiction in the Balkans, combining European regulatory standards and the technological potential of online gambling.