Kosovo Gambling Ban in Force

The new law in Kosovo, which prohibits all form of gambling with the exception of the lottery of Kosovo, has came into force last week. The law was adopted in March in a fast-tracked parliamentary procedure.

The law was adopted under pressure from the international community for its poor results in fighting crime and corruption, and the immediate cause of it was the killing of two young men at a casino in March.

The Gambling Association of Kosovo said the industry employed 4,000 workers. As the law enters into force, more than 400 businesses would be closed which include 306 betting shops, 133 outlets with gambling machines and six Bingo outlets.