Kosovo’s gambling culture is defined by a sharp reversal: a market that once had hundreds of betting shops was almost entirely shut down in 2019 after casino-linked murders, leaving the state lottery as the only legal game. Today the country - Muslim-majority, football-loving and among Europe’s poorer economies - sits in an unusual position: gambling is broadly prohibited, yet reporting suggests informal betting on offshore sites persists in a legal grey zone. Understanding Kosovo’s gambling scene means understanding both a genuine crackdown on crime and the religious and social attitudes that formed its backdrop.

From open market to prohibition

Before 2019, gambling was legal and regulated under the Law on Games of Chance, with the Ministry of Finance and the state lottery holding key roles over lotto-style products. Around the market’s peak there were roughly 306 betting shops, 133 gambling-machine venues, six bingo halls and land-based casino operations across the country.

That era ended abruptly. In March 2019, two people connected to casinos were shot dead within days of each other. Framing gambling as a magnet for organised crime, authorities moved to shut gambling centres and parliament then passed Law No. 06/L-155 ‘On the Prohibition of Games of Chance’, banning nearly all games of chance. Reporting at the time noted around 4,000 jobs lost and roughly EUR 20 million in annual gambling tax revenue foregone (figures reported by Euronews and France 24).

Historically, sports betting - above all on football - was at the heart of Kosovo’s gambling culture, reflecting the country’s passion for the sport. Slot machines, bingo (including in the pre-ban era) and the state lottery’s draws and scratch/instant tickets rounded out the picture. Since 2019, the only legally available product is the state lottery; any slots or casino play now happens via unregulated offshore sites.

Religion and social attitudes

Kosovo is overwhelmingly Muslim - census figures place the Muslim share at roughly 90 percent or more of the population - predominantly ethnic-Albanian and Sunni. In Islam, gambling is widely regarded as forbidden (haram). While Kosovo is often described as relatively secular, that religious backdrop, combined with public concern over addiction, debt and the crime linked to the sector, is commonly cited as part of the context in which the prohibition drew broad support.

A grey zone today

The result is a country where gambling is officially almost entirely banned, but where demand did not disappear. With no licensed domestic private operators, offshore online betting fills the gap for some - unlicensed, unprotected and legally in a grey area. For anyone in Kosovo, that means no local recourse if something goes wrong, and the usual risks of unregulated play.

18+. Gambling in Kosovo is legally limited to the state lottery; offshore play is unregulated. If gambling stops being fun, seek help.

Sources