How Albania’s Casino Scene Is Changing in 2025: From Tirana to Online Play

The Albanian casino market has gone through a lot in recent years, just think of the 2019 casino ban or the numerous changes in regulations.

After banning almost all casinos a few years ago, with the exception of a few luxury casinos that are still operating in Tirana today, the country has now taken a turn towards liberalization.

Although gambling moved into the black market for a while, current trends show that Albania is attempting to reinvent and develop this industry once again. The aim is to create a modern and well-regulated system that will also protect players.

The History of Albanian Gambling and the Banning of Casinos

In order to understand how we got to this point in 2025, it is important to know some of the background to the development of the gambling market in Albania.

First and foremost, it should be noted that the industry began to grow rapidly in the 2010s, and the regulatory framework was unable to keep pace with this rapid progress. As a result, the gambling market that developed during those years remained largely unregulated.

As time passed, by 2018, many casinos had opened in the country, as well as places that were dedicated to sports betting. Unfortunately, there were more and more reports of criminal cases that were related to gambling in some way.

As a result, the government at the time banned gambling in 2019, closed betting agencies and casinos, and blocked access to online casino sites. The government at the time stated that the goal was to clean up gambling from the streets of Albania. Only luxury casinos operating in 5-star hotels in Tirana were allowed to remain open.

The Reasons for and Consequences of the Ban

The problem at the end of the 2010s was not that many people spent their free time gambling, but that gambling addiction was spreading rapidly, especially among young men.

Another warning sign was the high number of crimes that were found to be linked in some way to gambling. The authorities reported an increasing number of crimes committed, for example, because of debts incurred through gambling.

The lack of an appropriate regulatory framework also contributed to the ban, as developments happened too quickly for regulations to keep pace. As a result, there was effectively no economic control, which is clearly a serious problem.

However, the ban did not result in people quitting the game, but rather switching to platforms and opportunities in what is known as the black market. The formal market was curtailed, but addiction remained, and tax evasion was also a common phenomenon.

Many supported the decision, but others thought that it was excessive and did more harm than good from an economic point of view. Similar movements were taking place in other Balkan countries at the time, but there is no doubt that Albania imposed the most severe restrictions.

The Road to Liberalization: What 's Going on in 2025?

As the years passed after the restrictions were imposed, the government had to admit that this drastic ban was not the best solution. This is how we got to the point where, in 2024 and now in 2025, the goal is not a strict ban, but regulated authorization.

We can call this change a reform, which began in 2024, and the results are already visible in 2025. But what exactly does this reform entail? In the spring of 2024, a new gambling law came into force, lifting the previous ban and introducing a new licensing system for both physical and online casinos.

Under the new regulations, online gambling operators must meet strict financial and security requirements in order to operate. It is also important to note that all players are registered in a central database, which allows the state to track money movements and time spent gambling, among other things.

The State's New Objectives Regarding Gambling

One of the Albanian government's current goals is to ensure that money flows within the iGaming market can be tracked and that activities are subject to appropriate economic controls.

At the same time, its objectives also include combating money laundering and protecting players, as it considers it important to curb the increase in criminal activity. The Albanian gambling industry is currently undergoing a transformation, one of the most important aspects of which is the promotion of responsible gaming.

Within the framework of an appropriate regulatory system, gambling can be an excellent touristic service, so one of the objectives is to use gambling for this purpose.

What's the Deal with Physical Casinos?

Physical casinos are still mostly located in the capital, Tirana, in 5-star hotels. The government views these establishments primarily as tourist services and treats them accordingly.

Physical casinos are therefore operated primarily as part of tourism, and the goal is not to offer everyday entertainment to the population. Tirana's narrative at the moment is to become the mini-Monaco of the Balkans.

Economic and Moral Dilemmas Persist

Although the atmosphere has become more peaceful with the launch of the liberalization process, many questions remain unanswered, and there is no guarantee as to what results the changes currently underway will bring.

The new systems will definitely increase the country's tax revenue, while at the same time providing a no deposit bonus safer environment for gambling thanks to the regulations. However, it remains to be seen whether these regulations will be sufficient to reduce the incidence of gambling addiction.

What is certain is that Albania's gambling market is entering a new and exciting era, which will hopefully create favorable conditions for players, service providers, and the government alike.