E fundit!

22:51 TODAY

Businessman Artur Shehu breaks his silence: I am a long-time land owner in Zvërnec, I don't know the investors at all

Albanian businessman Artur Shehu spoke on the Opinion show...

The government forgets bets and investments in sports, everything remains a puzzle

2023-07-12 09:58:18, Sport CNA

On April 4, the Ministry of Finance submitted for public consultation the draft law "On some additions and changes to the law no. 155/2015 "On gambling in the Republic of Albania", amended. Although a 1-month deadline has been set for giving opinions on this draft law, it is still not known what is being done with it.

The Ministry, for its part, thinks that it has fulfilled its obligation, calling the actors, such as The Albanian National Olympic Committee, as well as all the federations, in a round table, where he made a presentation of the draft law and the relationship that accompanies it. Sources from former betting companies say they have not been consulted enough and do not know if their suggestions have been taken into account in the revision of this bill. While we are in the month of July and this draft law has not yet been discussed in the parliamentary committees and, as is known, the procedures require their time, until this law is approved by the parliament. While its approval is closely related to a series of critical investments in sports, which are so much expected, not only by the sports-loving community, but also by the general public.

Meanwhile, Albania has scored some impressive results in some sports, such as wrestling, athletics, karate, weightlifting, boxing, taekwondo, etc., and expectations are high for other high results in the international arena. How will the much sought-after investments in sports be made? How will the preparation of the national teams, which will present Albania in the upcoming Olympic Games "Paris 2024", be done, when the budget allocated to the federations is minimalist? With such budgets, we cannot claim a dignified representation of Albania in these Games and to receive the medals so desired by all Albanians. In the current draft of this draft law, it seems that there are major shortcomings also in terms of the minimum value, how it can be played in "online" bets, where a credit card is required even for negligible values, such as 100 ALL. If a standard is not set for the minimum value when applying for a credit card, this bill will fail and people will retreat and play the black market, where the procedures are simpler. In this way, the current draft is evasive and leaves room for abuse.

MUNGESA E MINISTRISË SË SPORTEVE – Po diskutohet një projektligj për sportin, ku ministria përgjegjëse për sportin nuk është pjesë e Komisionit të Licencave, ku dihet se të ardhurat që do të vijnë nga bastet “online” do të jenë të dedikuar për projekte për sportin dhe inovacionin. Nga ana tjetër, federatat dhe shoqatat sportive janë të paqarta në lidhje me kriteret dhe procedurat që ato duhet të ndjekin në lidhje me aplikimin për projekte të ndryshme në fushën e sportit. Edhe në këtë rast duket se financimi i sportit do të ngelet peng i humorit të qeverisë, apo i ministrit të radhës, nëse do të kryhen financimet aq të dëshiruara në sport, apo jo.

Moreover, it seems that this draft law contradicts the current law on sports, which provides for the creation, at the ministry responsible for sports, of the National Fund for the Development of Sports from the income provided by sports betting and games of chance, according to legislation in force on gambling. It is not known how the solution of such a contradiction is intended, when the ministry responsible for sports itself is not included in the License Commission! It seems that even if everything goes well, the relevant authorities are too late in informing the public, as it has not yet been considered how "online" bets will be promoted to the public, how minor consumers under the age of 18 will be protected, that not to be involved in "online" bets, etc