Online sports betting: Strict ID rules set for legal return

Legal online sports betting is set to return, more than two years after lawmakers voted to revive the industry.

The gambling regulator has approved all final rules, though it has not yet set a date for companies to apply for licenses. Up to ten firms will be allowed to operate.

Players must scan an official ID card to log into betting sites. Platforms must also use software to track every bet and ensure fair play.

Companies face strict tests to win a license. A firm must have at least three years of experience in major foreign markets and earn two billion lek a year.

Operators must also deposit 120 million leks into a government bank account as a security guarantee.

The return comes almost seven years after a nationwide ban. The government closed more than 4,000 betting shops in 2019 to fight family debt and social problems.