Best Betting Sites in Albania

Albania lies in the Balkan peninsula, sharing a border with Greece and Montenegro, among others and has a great view of the Adriatic. The country long loved football, which brought the unprecedented success of qualifying to the group stage of Euro 2016. Many Albanian footballers have joined the ranks of top European teams like Lazio, Southampton and Atalanta, showing the improvement of the sport back home.

The gambling industry is a massive economic engine that garners around €150 million that Albanians spend on gambling. In contrast, the government’s unofficial data say €700 million is the right markup. Lately, the authorities have decided to clamp down on all gambling and betting sites in Albania. All of this, in turn, has forced players to focus entirely on betting on international bookmakers rather than on the local Albania bet sites.

Best Albanian Betting Sites

We list only the best betting sites in Albania that stand out in odds, markets and bonuses. The case is that they are always foreign since they are names we know and trust. They include a range of events, including Abissnet Superiore (Albanian Super League) and major European competitions.

Bet Albania - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  The legal gambling age in Albania is 21
• 2
  Albanians bet online on sports, horse racing, bingo, lottery
• 3
  Gambling pundits mostly bet on football
• 4
  The biggest international betting sites accept local players
• 5
  Sports betting is available on online bookmakers

General info

⏩Population: 2.845.900

⏩Active players: 340.000

⏩Currency: Albanian lek (ALL)

⏩Regulated gambling products: The National Lottery, TV bingo, casino games

⏩Designated authority: ambling Supervisory Authority

⏩Operator types: Casino resorts and large hotels, unlicensed online bookies and casinos

⏩Status: Prohibited

Online Betting in Albania: The Law Framework

The recent harsh regulations in place since January 2019 have hampered players’ efforts in finding a legit bookie. Any betting activity is banned mainly due to combat gambling addiction and match-fixing.

The communications regulatory authority (The Electronic and Postal Communications Authority or AKEP) has blocked more than 1500 betting domains and affiliates, adding another obstacle. As a result, most bookmakers have left the country to avoid the hassle, leaving behind a few.

On the same note, even land-based casinos and betting shops are banned unless located in a tourist resort or hotel. The rumor is that a state-controlled bookmaker will soon emerge to control the gambling activity fully; however, bettors have to look for bypassing restrictions until then.

Essential Information for Bettors

By now, you should have a pretty good idea that betting in Albania can be pretty challenging. And this is where we come, with several tips to streamline the process. Firstly, since authorities ban all Albania sports betting, it is a prerequisite to use a VPN service.

Once you do that, you can access foreign bookmakers who operate overseas and cannot be regulated by local authorities. Moreover, note that there are no set penalties for those betting online despite the strict law, leaving a window of opportunity.

When searching for your next Albania bet site, consider that the bookie might not accept the local currency (Lek). That could result in some conversion fees deducted from your bankroll. And hopefully, you know some good English, as the bookmaker interface will unlikely be available in the Albanian language.

Bet Online Albania: How to Deposit at Online Bookies

Another crucial factor to look into is the available payment methods. Since all betting activity is prohibited, pay attention if you want to use a credit/debit card. Your payment details might leak to authorities, and while there are no set fines as we described above, it is better to avoid them.

A good tip is to use wallets like Skrill & Neteller available for Albania bet. They will provide the necessary anonymity and have been long favourites of bettors who value under-the-radar transactions.

Payeer betting sites can also be good alternatives as the provider has expanded rapidly in Eastern Europe. And if your bookie supports crypto payments, even better. Bitcoin, Ethereum and all similar currencies offer top privacy adding to the instant speed of payments.

The Future of Albania Bet

At the moment, the stringent laws regarding gambling seem unlikely to change. However, you can take advantage of certain loopholes, such as the lack of punitive measures for betting overseas. Furthermore, your activity will remain hidden if you use a banking option like a wallet or a cryptocurrency.

There is a debate among the regulatory bodies in the government of a possible state-owned bookmaker. Supporters believe it is better to have a controlled and regulated environment where Albanians can play instead of illegally. While we do not expect rapid changes in a month or two, it could signify things to come.

Gambling Regulations in Nearby Countries

⏩ Kosovo: is one of the few countries in the region other than Albania that prohibited gambling, although only temporarily. The Kosovo betting sites are comprised of unlicensed international bookmakers, which are not blocked and fall under no legal framework.

⏩ North Macedonia: is a small country where half of the population participates in some gambling activity. Both on-land and online casinos and bet shops are regulated, but locals prefer the international betting sites in Macedonia that accept players without having the required license. 

⏩ Montenegro: has legalised gambling on its territories, and it even used to give an online international license. But the Montenegro betting sites started avoiding local licenses since locals can sign up on their accounts without repercussions.