North Macedonia lies to the south of Kosovo, Albania to the southwest and Montenegro to the northwest. In the modern world, the panorama of gambling in Kosovo has significantly shifted, especially after the 2019 act that prohibited most types of gambling. This has been one of the biggest shifts seen by bookmakers and sports betting fans. This article provides an understanding of the history and the present legal situation of gambling in Kosovo with emphasis on Kosovo bookmakers and Kosovo sports betting.
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Summary of Key Events
The History of Gambling Laws in Kosovo
The regulation of gambling in Kosovo can be said to have started with fairly liberal legislations, to allow for various forms of gambling such as betting on sports and management of casinos. Nonetheless, several events that occurred prior to the year 2019 altered the legal framework in relation to bookmakers in Kosovo.
- March 2019: After two heinous incidents in which employees of gambling establishments were killed, the government of Kosovo decided to revise all the gambling laws.
- April 1, 2019: The new law which prohibits almost all forms of gambling and sports betting took effect. This was a dramatic change as of now Kosovo is the only country in Europe that has such strong anti-gambling laws.
Current Gambling Legislation
The gambling laws in Kosovo that are in use today are complete and rather strict. It outlines almost all the aspects, ranging from licensing to the types of bets allowed.
Regulatory of Kosovo Bookmakers
The regulatory body for gambling operations in Kosovo is the Kosovo Lottery which to date remains the only legal means of gambling. This is a state owned company that has the responsibility of granting licenses for lottery retailers as well as regulating the laws.
Allowed and Prohibited Bets
Kosovo’s legislation is clear about what is permitted and what is not:
- Allowed: The only lottery allowed in the Kosovo was the national lottery sold by the Kosovo Lottery.
- Prohibited: Any other type of gambling such as on sporting events, in casinos, and through the internet.
Licensing and Fees
Given the stringent laws, the issuance of gambling licenses in Kosovo is highly restricted:
- Lottery Retailer Licenses: These are issues by the Kosovo Lottery and to the best of our knowledge, they are the only licenses being issued currently.
- Fees: The charges that Kosovo Lottery applies for the various permits are that of lottery retailer license to ensure that all the transactions involved are well and clearly stated.
Taxation
After the ban in 2019, Kosovo has not created an individual gambling taxation system up to the present moment. Thus, there are no taxes or legislation on gambling and related activities except for those concerning the national lottery.
- Player Winnings: Exempted under the existing laws.
Kosovo Sports Betting
Before the ban that was put in place in 2019, sports betting was quite popular in Kosovo particularly football betting since football is the most popular sport in the country. All genres of sports betting including Kosovo sports betting have been prohibited following the passing of the new law.
Sporting Event Glory Milestones
Despite the strict gambling laws, Kosovo has a rich history of sporting achievements:
- 1914: Football has been recorded to have been played in Kosovo.
- 1922: Promulgation of first football clubs FC Gjakova and FC Prishtina.
- 1984: Aziz Salihu gets a bronze medal in Boxing at the Summer Olympics.
- 2016: Kosovar judoka Malinda Kelmendi wins her first Olympic medal in Rio.
- 2019: Kosovo national football team comes out victorious in the Balkan cup.
Conclusion
Kosovo has some of the most strict gambling regulations which have actually prohibited bookmakers and sports betting but this does not mean that the people of Kosovo are not sporty. From giving birth to great sportsmen and women to attaining great feats in different sports, Kosovo has remained a force to reckon on the international scene. To understand the current situation of gambling, it is significant to know the existing laws and rules.
FAQ – Kosovo Bookmakers
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