The new sports betting 'scheme'/ How businesses are operating in violation of the law

2025-03-28 18:02:00, Aktualitet CNA

The new sports betting 'scheme'/ How businesses are operating in

Journalist Ola Xama has uncovered the new "scheme" through which a recently widespread form of sports betting operates in Tirana, despite the fact that the government in 2018 made the decision to completely close this activity.

Through a post on social media, Xama has also published photos of several bars in the capital, which have screens inside that offer to broadcast sports matches and if asked to place bets, they offer it immediately.

These businesses have increased the placement of bets on their premises in violation of the law.

This can be said with certainty, as to date no license has been granted for the exercise of this activity, as AMLF is required by law to announce the competition process in the Public Notices Bulletin and in 2 international newspapers. There is no such announcement in the Public Bulletin.

As for the official decision, it dates back to the end of 2018, when the government made the decision to completely close the "sports betting" category of gambling and approved legal changes to allow them in February 2024.

With the new changes, sports betting will only operate online and licenses in this market will be approved by the Licensing Commission, which consists of 7 members, 5 representatives from various ministries and 2 others from public agencies.

The Licensing Commission operates under the Gambling Supervisory Authority, but since the adoption of the law, there has been no information from this agency on whether the commission has been established, who the members are, and what decisions have been made.

Despite this decision, for months now, several bars with the "CR7" or "333" logos, where betting is also offered, have been popping up in Tirana at a high rate.

The question the journalist also asks is whether anyone from the State Police or AMLF has realized that illegal activity could be carried out in these premises because there is no company licensed in this field.

Journalist Xama raises questions about why the "investors" of these outlets are convinced that they will receive the license and have begun investing in signing contracts with dozens of outlets, paying the costs of their logos and branding. /CNA