Albania is on the verge of reopening its online sports betting market after years of prohibition and regulatory uncertainty. Following the legalisation of online sports betting in 2024, the Government has faced a complex path, with the drafting of regulations delayed. The Council of Ministers has finally approved technical standards.
Regulatory delays and parliamentary scepticism
In February 2024, the Albanian Parliament passed a highly debated law legalising online sports betting.
Following its approval, the Ministry of Finance was given six months to draft the necessary regulations for implementation.
Albania had previously imposed a ban on all forms of online and offline gambling in 2019, with only a few exceptions for land-based casinos. By late 2024, a Ministry official told local media that the regulations were still being prepared, with expectations that they would be finalised by the end of the year. The licensing process was anticipated to begin in 2025.
Throughout the regulatory process, proposals were often met with scepticism by members of parliament, who raised concerns about money-laundering risks and potential legal loopholes which might have contributed to delays.
Council of Ministers approves technical standards
Up until recently, news on the matter has been relatively quiet. Now several Albanian media outlets have reported that the Council of Ministers has approved new rules for licensed online sports betting platforms.
The regulations set minimum technical standards for websites, apps and systems, covering technical requirements, player identification, data protection and real-time monitoring of all financial transactions.
This represents a significant step towards reopening the market, despite previous delays and unrealised promises. The legislative groundwork seems to be in place. Sports betting is expected to be allowed only online, with previous reports suggesting that licences will be granted to just 10 operators.
Limiting licences may make the market competitive and attractive to experienced operators, but the alleged strong presence of established illegal operators, explained below, could make it challenging to channel players into the legal market.
The combination of corruption, delays and entrenched illegal operators may limit the effectiveness of new regulations, unless accompanied by strict enforcement and oversight
Alleged corruption and police official complicity
In May 2024, the Special Prosecutor's Office against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK), an independent judicial body responsible for investigating and prosecuting high-level corruption and organised crime, conducted a major operation targeting seven criminal groups and issued 50 arrest warrants.
The investigation exposed the involvement of senior police officials and operatives in criminal activity, signalling widespread corruption. Notably, two high-ranking officers were found to be leading operations connected to illegal gambling and narcotics cultivation, including one who headed the Illicit Trafficking and Narcotics Section in a municipality.
Reports of highly structured black-market operations
In May 2025, investigative reports from local media revealed that in Tirana and other major cities, many cafés and bars openly displayed logos of betting brands. Allegedly, these were removed following media attention, but the underground market continued.
Local media described the illegal market as highly structured, operating like a pyramid: a few top companies run the platforms, regional managers oversee territories and local bar managers enable public participation.
The sophistication of the illegal market shows strong demand and suggests that a legal alternative could capture significant revenue if regulation is properly enforced.
Some reports suggested that the regulatory delays might have been deliberate, with illegal operators preferring to remain tax-free. Estimates then place the value of Albania’s underground betting market at around €2bn ($2.29bn) in turnover, although this figure may be overstated.
Enforcement will determine success of legalisation
Albania has a relatively small population of about 2.8 million, with income levels lower than those of many Western European countries. However, the alleged sophistication of the illegal market shows strong demand and suggests that a legal alternative could capture significant revenue if regulation is properly enforced.
The question that remains is whether media reports alleging corruption are true, and how transparent the licensing process will be.
The combination of corruption, delays and entrenched illegal operators may limit the effectiveness of new regulations, unless accompanied by strict enforcement and oversight.
This is, of course, a familiar story across Europe. Can Albania find the balance where others have struggled?
There were also reports that SPAK questioned police officials who allegedly tipped illegal operators about inspections on unlicensed venues
