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Best Sports Betting Sites in Albania

Top 3 Bookies in Albania
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This guide will take a closer look at Albania and its current situation with betting and gambling and provide you with all the answers you’ll need to start online betting in Albania by covering 3 key points:
  1. Where to find the best betting sites in Albania?
  2. What can you bet on in Albania?
  3. What is the history of online betting in Albania?

Full List of Albania Betting Sites

From 2019 to the end of 2022, there were no Albanian sportsbooks in the country, and even most international sportsbooks, such as Bet 365, Union Bet, and 1xBet, were unavailable for local bettors. That was because the Albanian government banned online betting and gambling and blocked access to nearly 2000 websites that offered sports betting in Albania.

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check iconCompetitive odds
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But as of January 2024, the Albanian government re-introduced sports betting and made it completely legal, opening the doors for new sports betting companies in Albania to emerge. Even though it’ll take time for sportsbooks in Albania to return in full force, it didn’t take long for many of the biggest betting companies to re-enter the market.

If you’re looking to start betting in Albania, there are many Albanian sportsbooks to choose from, so there are plenty of options and many great bookmakers in Albania to sign up with. Moreover, the number of available sports betting companies in Albania is expected to increase by the end of the year, so things are looking up for Albanian bettors.

How We Test & Review Albania Betting Sites

Due to the Albanian government re-legalizing betting sites in Albania, local bettors are protected by laws and the regulatory body against most shady wagering platforms. However, that doesn’t mean that every available website that offers online betting in Albania is good.

To recognize which are the best sports betting sites in Albania, you have to consider several factors, and here is the main thing we look for when testing and reviewing Albanian betting sites.

  • All of the best betting sites in Albania must be safe, secure, and legal. It is the most important thing to look for in any bookmaker you intend to sign up with since ensuring your money is safe should be your number one priority.
  • Besides the security, we also consider the quality of betting odds and whether the Albanian bookmakers we review have enough betting markets. Quality odds are essential, but so is the customer’s ability to bet on whatever they like.
  • The website’s functionality is just as important since you want to see the bookmaker’s website run smoothly without any issues. And the same holds for all Albania betting apps.
  • Added features like live streaming and the availability of a betting app add a bonus point, even though it’s fair to expect all of the best Albanian betting sites to have them. These features should be available even if you’re not a mobile bettor or don’t intend to bet on live matches.
  • Although not as important as the odds quality, betting bonuses and promotions like free bets should not be ignored. Bonuses offer much value to bettors, and all bookmakers with a solid bonus department are usually great choices.
  • Lastly, it’s important to check the banking department, how many deposit and withdrawal options the sportsbook has, whether it has any fees, and how fast it processes payments. It isn’t as big of an issue nowadays, but there’s still a gap between sportsbooks that do it well and those that don’t.

If you find a bookmaker that checks those marks, it’s fair to say that it’s one of Albania’s top sports betting sites. However, if you want to bet with the best odds, you should always look to register with more than one sportsbook.

How to Sign Up, Verify & Place Your First Bet with an Albania Bookmaker

Signing up with Albanian bookies is very straightforward, and it shouldn’t take you longer than a few minutes to complete the sign-up process and place your first Albania bet. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it and what to look for.

  1. Pick a sportsbook you want to register with and visit its website. You can also sign up for an account via a mobile betting app if the bookmaker has it, but you should complete the registration via a desktop site since it’s more convenient.
  2. Navigate to the “sign up” or “register” button and begin the registration process.
  3. Provide your username, password, and other required details, such as your full name, date of birth, address, and email address.
  4. Verify your account via a verification link sent to your email. But ensure you’re opening the right link from the official email address.
  5. Once you’ve verified your account, you can log in to the sportsbook and make your first deposit.
  6. To deposit, navigate to the cashier tab, where you’ll select your preferred deposit method and input the amount of money you want to put into your account.
  7. Before you make your deposit, check whether the bookmaker has any welcome deposit bonuses. Many betting sites in Albania will require you to opt-in for the welcome bonus, so if you miss it and complete a deposit, you won’t be eligible for it.
  8. With money in your betting account, you can now start betting; however, before you can withdraw your winnings, you’ll be asked to complete the KYC verification.

All in all, the sign-up process with any of Albania’s top sports betting sites takes just a few minutes to complete if you have the needed documents. And while you’re at it, we advise you to complete the KYC before you decide to withdraw your winnings to speed up the withdrawal process.

All bookmakers in Albania will have some betting bonuses and offers available – but there’s a difference between the best sportsbooks with great rewards and those with fairly mediocre offers.

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New customers only! Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.
Rakeboost bonus
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At the very least, all Labania betting sites will have a welcome bonus, used primarily to attract new customers and generally the best bonus available. Beyond that, sports betting companies in Albania also offer offers and promotions for existing users, which range from VIP offers, free bets, Acca boosts, insurance, and many more.

Deposit Bonuses

Deposit bonuses are among the most common offers found on bookies in Albania. As the name suggests, these bonuses are tied directly to you making a deposit and most commonly come as a matched deposit bonus.

With a matched deposit bonus, the Albanian sportsbooks match your deposit and give you free wagering cash relative to the size of your deposit. These kinds of bonuses are most commonly found as welcome offers.

Welcome Offers

As noted, welcome offers are bonuses bookies in Albania offer primarily to attract new customers, making them as appealing as possible. There are many variations of welcome bonuses, but the most common is the matched deposit bonus.

For example, if a bookmaker offers a 100% matched deposit welcome bonus, you will receive 100% of your first deposit with the bookmaker in free wagering cash. So as a new customer, if you deposit €100, you will receive an additional €100 free wagering cash – but know that the bonus will come with a rollover requirement.

Free Bets

Free bets can be offered as a part of the welcome bonus, but they’re typically given to existing users randomly. Albania betting sites commonly give out free bets during big sporting events, and their size depends entirely on your betting activity.

If you regularly bet with €20, the bookmaker will give you €20 in free wagering cash – usually with a 1x rollover requirement. But know that there is a limit to how high the free bet bonus can go, and it depends on the bookmaker how much they’re willing to give away as a part of the promotion.

CashBack

Cashback bonuses and offers are very straightforward and are typically offered on accumulator bets. For example, bet 365 can have an offer running during the FIFA World Cup, where if you place a five-leg accumulator and miss just one selection, you’ll get your money back.

VIP Offers

VIP offers are promotions offered exclusively to existing users, who are rewarded for their activity. Many sportsbooks in Albania have VIP offers, which go by levels – the more you bet, the higher your VIP level and the better rewards you can get.

The VIP rewards range from free bets, enhanced odds, BOG offers, free money transfers, physical rewards, or free vacations. There is no limit to what a bookmaker can offer as a part of the VIP bonus.

Albanian Sports Betting Market Overview

📅 Sports Betting Legal Since: Legal but strictly limited
🏢 Regulatory Body: Gambling Supervision Authority
⚖️ Legal Acts: Law no. 155/2015
🧾 Taxation: Winnings are not taxable
⚽ Favorite Sports to Bet on: Football, basketball, tae kwon do, volleyball, swimming
🏅 Widespread Tournaments\Competitions to Bet on: Kategoria Superiore, Kupa e Shqipërisë, Liga Unike
🎰 Other Popular Gambling Markets: Poker, bingo, casinos, lotteries
⭐ Most Popular Sportsbooks: 20Bet, 22Bet, FreshBet

Bet of the Day for Albania

Sportsbooks in Albania do an excellent job with their betting market coverage, as they don’t limit local bettors on what they can bet on.

WHAT IS THE BEST BET FOR TODAY?

From offering betting markets on major sports leagues and all sports to covering local tournaments and competitions, websites that offer sports betting in Albania ensure that locals always have something to bet on.

Bet on Sport

Sports betting is very popular in Albania, especially in volleyball, football, swimming, and weightlifting, some of the country’s most popular sports. And due to their popularity, betting sites in Albania take extra care to offer as many wagering markets on the sports as possible to satisfy the local punter’s needs.

But even beyond the most popular sports, Albanian bettors aren’t limited to what they can bet on. Due to the availability of international bookmakers like Bet365, locals can bet on any sport they want, even Esports, which is slowly gaining traction in the country.

Soccer

Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and even Albania isn’t immune to its global appeal. But not only does most of the population follow soccer, but this sport also makes up most of the Albanian betting handle.

Betting sites in Albania cover all popular soccer leagues, from the Premier League to K1 League, MLS, and local Kategoria Superiore. So if you want to bet on soccer from bookies in Albania, you won’t be limited in your betting options.

Volleyball

Volleyball is a hugely popular sport in Albania, mainly due to the success of local teams. But not only that – volleyball is also one of the most bet-on sports in the country, which explains why all of the best sports betting sites in Albania offer volleyball betting.

Swimming

In the global sports betting industry, swimming is somewhat of a niche sport, but that can’t be further from the truth in Albania. Most Albanian bettors bet on swimming, and most sports fans follow the sport, especially at events featuring local athletes.

Finding a good swimming betting site is a bit trickier since not many people bet on this sport; however, all Albanian bookies have swimming betting markets for all major events and local competitions.

Weightlifting

Weightlifting, like swimming, is a niche sport in the sports betting world, but it’s one of the most bet-on sports in Albania. Several local weightlifting competitions are popular among Albanian bettors, yet most of the betting activity happens during the Summer Olympic Games.

Bet on Competitions

In the same way, the best betting sites in Albania do an excellent job in offering betting markets on all sports; they also don’t limit local bettors when it comes to the offer of betting markets on sports competitions. Albanian sportsbooks will have betting markets ready if you want to bet on the biggest sports leagues like the NHL, NBA, Premier League, or lesser local events.

While the world’s biggest leagues and competitions are still the most bet-on among Albanian bettors, local contests like the Kategoria Superiore and the Albanian Volleyball League are just as popular.

Esports Betting

Esports betting was a niche activity just a decade ago, but nowadays, it’s just as popular as sports betting. It also explains why all bookmakers in Albania will have Esports betting markets – at least on the world’s most popular Esports in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, and League of Legends.

Yet out of all available Esports, CS:GO is by far the most popular among Albanian bettors, which mainly has to do with the success of the Albanian CS:GO team, Bad News Eagles, which played a big role in making CS:GO the country’s most watched and bet-on Esport.

How to Choose the Best Bookmakers in Albania

If you want to set yourself up for success while betting in Albania, you must register with the best sports betting sites in Albania. That’s a very easy thing to do, but the trick is to know which are the top sportsbooks for you.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding which Albanian bookmakers to register with.

  • The most important thing to look for when selecting a sportsbook is to ensure it’s safe, legit, and legal. It is the only way to feel safe trusting it with your personal information and money, so make sure that you check whether the bookmaker has a good reputation and a valid betting license.
  • All good Albanian bookmakers will be safe, but they’ll also offer competitive odds and enough betting markets. You must ensure that you’re betting at fair prices and have enough betting markets to bet on whatever you want.
  • The availability of betting bonuses isn’t as important as odds quality, but still very valuable. Good bonuses and offers give a lot of value, so make sure that you pick a sportsbook that can provide you with it.
  • All of Albania’s best sports betting sites will also have bonus features like live streaming and a betting app. Even if you don’t plan to live bet or wager from your phone, you should preferably register with a sportsbook with those options.
  • Lastly, good customer support is a must. You will likely rarely need to contact customer support agents, but if you need help, you’ll want to have reliable customer support available.

Which Albanian Bookmaker Has the Best Odds?

If you want access to the best odds while you bet online in Albania, signing up with several Albanian sportsbooks is the only way to achieve that. No one bookmaker will always have the best odds, and the sooner you realize that, the better.

The offered betting odds across all markets will differ from bookmaker to bookmaker, and you’ll rarely find the same match priced at the same odds across all betting sites in Albania. For example, bet365 can have Denver Nuggets priced at 2.10 to defeat Los Angeles Lakers, while Union Bet will have the Nuggets priced at 2.15.

So if you plan to bet on the Nuggets, you’ll naturally want to do it on Union Bet. Yet if you wish to place another bet on Premier League, Union Bet might not have the best offer, so you’ll again have to use another bookmaker to get the best odds.

So if you’re serious about betting and want access to the best betting odds, you’ll have to sign up for several accounts with top sports betting sites in Albania. It is the only way you’ll be able to price shop, i.e., look at all available markets and bet with the bookmaker with the best odds.

Deposit Methods at Albanian Sportsbooks

Until 2023, Albanian bettors were very limited in the payment methods they could use to deposit money on betting sites.

Still, those restrictions were lifted since online betting and gambling became legal. Nowadays, locals can deposit into their betting accounts with credit/debit cards or via a bank transfer; however, most prefer to use E-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller. That is because E-wallets tend to offer faster transactions

Withdrawal Methods at Albanian Sportsbooks

Deposits are executed within seconds and withdrawals rarely taking more than a couple of minutes.

In contrast, bank transfers can take several days to be processed and are slowly going out of fashion.

Mobile Betting Sites & Betting Apps in Albania

Every modern betting website has to have a way for its customers to bet from their phones. They usually achieve that by offering a dedicated mobile website, yet it’s nowadays expected that all sportsbooks also have a mobile betting app.

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Across the best betting sites in Albania, you’ll find both options, but the trend is going towards all bookmakers having their betting app. In contrast to a mobile website, an app is far more convenient to use. It’s more stable, designed to work well on phones, and has added features that make betting from your phone more enjoyable – such as notifications.

So if you’re a mobile bettor, you should register with bookmakers that have Albania betting apps. And make sure that you’re downloading the official version – from Google Play, App Store, or the sportsbooks’ website.

Albanian Live Betting & Streaming

Live betting is very popular online because it can be highly profitable. Especially if you’re knowledgeable about the sport or league you intend to bet on, you stand to make a nice profit, mainly because bookmakers are relatively inefficient when setting their live odds.

But to live bet, you must first sign up with live betting sites with a solid offer of in-play markets. Luckily, most betting sites in Albania do, yet not all have a reliable live-streaming service.

Any serious in-play bettors should use only bookmakers with good live-streaming options since this allows you to follow the action and place bets quickly. Of course, you could use another streaming service to follow the step, but if you want to bet live in Albania, it’s far more convenient to have live streams on the sportsbook.

Gambling and online betting were made illegal in Albania in 2019 due to the serious concerns about gambling addiction and match-fixing, which was running rampant in the country. But after four years, the government decided to re-introduce legal betting.

As of January 1, 2023, online sports betting is back on the menu for local bettors. With the needed legal framework, locals can now be free without any fear of getting persecuted for placing an online bet.

The country has yet to start issuing local betting licenses; however, that has its advantages since locals can bet online in Albania on all sportsbooks that accept Albanian customers. And that includes mainly international bookmakers such as one Bet, Extra Bet, Unic Bet, 1xBet, Bet111, Bet 07, and bet365.

Responsible Gambling Organisations in Albania

Below there are some international companies and organizations that can help you in case you are struggling against gambling problems in Albania.

  • Albanian Council on Problem Gambling (ACPG)
  • GambleAware
  • GamCare
  • Gambling Therapy
  • Gamblers Anonymous

History of Sports Betting in Albania

Gambling and sports betting were made illegal in Albania in 2019 when the government decided to shut down the industry due to the growing gambling addiction and serious issues with match-fixing. As a result, the regulatory authority (The Electronic and Postal Communications Authority or AKEP) blocked nearly 2000 websites where you could place an online bet in Albania and heaps of casinos that offered online gambling.

And due to the rising tensions, most sportsbooks decided to leave Albania as they weren’t ready to deal with the hassle imposed by the strict rules. Moreover, in 2019, Albania blocked all online Albanian sportsbooks and most land-based bookmakers and casinos – except if they were located in a hotel.

Despite the complete cut-off of all gambling and betting, the government decided to re-introduce online betting in Albania at the start of 2023. The decision was made in hopes that online betting activity would generate some much-needed revenue to help Albania control its debt due to the rising energy amid the global crisis.

It’s estimated that over €17 million will be collected through taxes each year; however, the exact numbers of how much Albanian bookies will generate for the country remain uncertain.

The Future of Albania Bet

The future of online betting in Albania looks significantly better than four years ago, when the government shut down all online betting and gambling, forcing local bettors to jump through many hoops to place a bet.

And considering the decision which led the government to re-introduced online betting (revenue through taxes), it’s fair to expect that Albania isn’t banned from wagering anytime soon.

Albania Overview

Before we end our article, here are some interesting facts about betting in Albania and sports in the country you should know about.

  • Tirana is Albania’s capital and the country’s most populous city, followed by Durres, Elbsan, and Vlore.
  • Albanian is Albania’s official and most-spoken language, but most of the population also speaks Serbian, Greek, and Bulgarian.
  • Albanian Lek is Albania’s official currency, which most Albanian bookmakers accept. However, bettors also use Euro, USD, and crypto for their deposits.
  • The most popular online payment methods among Albanian bettors are credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, and crypto deposits.
  • Albania’s most popular legal online bookmakers are Bet365, Union Bet, 1xBet, Betroller, and 20Bet.
  • The most popular sports in the country are volleyball, football, swimming, and basketball.
  • Albania’s most popular local sports competitions, which people bet on, include Kategoria Superiore, Albanian Volleyball League, and the Albanian Basketball League. Yet, most bets are placed on international leagues such as the Premier League, Serie A, and the NBA.
  • Albania’s most successful sports teams are KV Tirana, KF Tirana, and Partizani.
  • Albania is home to many world-class athletes, including Lorik Cana, Taulant Xhaka, Sefer Seferi, Majlinda Kelmendi, and Luiza Gega.
  • Betting and gambling were illegal in Albania from 2019 to 2023, when the Albanian government decided to re-legalize it in hopes of generating revenue through taxes to pay for the country’s debt.
  • Despite appearing in every Summer Olympic Games since 1992, Albania has yet to win an Olympic medal.

Bottom Line

It concludes our article on the best Albanian betting sites and the situation of online wagering in the country. If you’ve read so far, you know everything there is to know about online betting in Albania, so you’re now ready to visit the best sports betting sites in Albania and start wagering with BetZillion.

Remember to take betting in moderation and never bet with more than you can afford to lose.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is online betting legal in Albania?
    Yes, online betting in Albania was made legal in 2023. It was, however, illegal in 2019, when the government banned all forms of gambling due to match-fixing and growing concerns about betting addiction.
  • What are the best betting sites in Albania?
    Some of the best betting sites in Albania are Bet365, Union Bet, 1xBet, and 20Bet. However, the number of available wagering sites in the country is expected to grow, and more sportsbooks are projected to enter the market in the coming years.
  • What currency is accepted by Albania betting sites?
    Albanian betting sites accept many currencies, including the Albanian Lek, Euro, US Dollar, and crypto. But crypto deposits are only available on crypto betting platforms, of which only a few are in Albania.
  • What are the most popular payment methods for online betting in Albania?
    The most popular online payment methods among Albanian bettors are Skrill and Neteller. Since online betting became legal, locals can use bank transfers and credit/debit card deposits, but most prefer E-wallets.
  • Do you pay income tax on your winnings while betting online in Albania?
    Albanian bettors don’t have to pay any taxes on their winnings; however, the government does charge sportsbooks a 15% tax on the gross revenue + licensing fees and an additional 3% on the annual turnover.
  • How fast do these gambling companies process withdrawals for players in Albania?
    The speed at which your withdrawals will be processed on Albanian betting sites depends on which withdrawal method you choose and which bookmaker you use. E-wallets are the best option since they process all withdrawals within minutes.
  • Is Bet365 legal in Albania?
    Bet365 wasn’t legal in Albania since 2019, but it was made legal in 2023 when the Albanian government re-legalized online betting. Moreover, Bet365 is considered one of Albania’s best and most popular betting sites due to its great odds and solid market coverage.
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    Tim E
    Author
    Betting Guru

    Tim is our betting guru. Every gaming site needs one, and Tim’s our guy. He has plenty of experience in betting online and is quite successful at it. Tim’s favorite sports are hockey, baseball, and Esports. Tim believes the latter to be the future of betting.