On 26 March 2026, the Albanian Council of Ministers adopted Decision No. 194, establishing the evaluation criteria, timelines, competitive procedure, and scoring methodology for granting licences for online sports betting operators (the “Decision”).
The Decision introduces the operational framework governing future licensing rounds under Albania’s gambling legislation and represents a further step toward the structured reopening of the regulated online betting market, establishing a single-stage competitive licensing procedure, administered by the Gambling Supervisory Authority (AMLF) in cooperation with the Licensing Commission.
Online sports betting licences remain limited to a maximum of ten (10) operators nationwide, reflecting Albania’s controlled market-entry model aimed at ensuring regulatory oversight and market stability.
Participation is restricted to applicants meeting statutory eligibility requirements. Applications may be submitted only by joint-stock companies, including authorised consortium structures acting through designated representatives.
Applications will be assessed through a points-based evaluation system with a maximum score of 100 points allocated across five core criteria:
- Economic offer (30 points): higher licence fee proposals receive proportionally higher scores based on comparative evaluation;
- Industry experience (30 points): assessment of demonstrated gambling-sector expertise of the applicant or qualifying shareholders;
- Organisational and administrative capacity (20 points): evaluation of governance structures, internal controls, operational reliability, and risk-management systems;
- Technological and software capabilities (15 points): review of cybersecurity standards, system integrity, international certifications, and integration with AML monitoring systems;
- Business plan for online betting operations (5 points): submission of a comprehensive operational and financial strategy covering at least a three-year period.
Following the evaluation, applicants are ranked in descending order based on their total score. Where two or more applicants obtain equal points, ranking will be determined by lottery conducted by the Licensing Commission, with prior notification to participants. Non-attendance does not affect the validity of the process.
Each licensing round is initiated by the Licensing Commission, which determines the number of licences to be awarded. The call for applications must be published both domestically and in international media, signalling Albania’s intention to attract experienced foreign operators.
Applicants must submit complete documentation within a single application phase and pay a non-refundable application fee of ALL 500,000 (approx., EUR 5,100).
Applications are subject to formal verification, technical assessment, and comparative evaluation before the successful applicant is announced. The deadline for submission of applications is 45 calendar days from the date specified in the competition notice.
Decision No. 194 entered into force on 30 March 2026, following its publication in the Official Gazette.
The information in this document does not constitute legal advice on any particular matter and is provided for general informational purposes only.
