Gambling in Kosovo banned by law in 2019 due to murders and organized crime

Gambling in Kosovo was legally and officially banned in March 2019, when the Kosovo Assembly passed the Law on the Prohibition of Games of Chance, which entered into force in May of the same year. The immediate trigger for this strict measure, which led to the closure of all casinos and betting shops, was the tragic murder of two young men in gambling establishments in Lipljan and Suva Reka, as well as public pressure caused by rising crime.

The Law on the Prohibition of Games of Chance primarily envisaged the closure of all betting shops and casinos in Kosovo for a period of 10 years. However, the final version of the law did not specify a number of years, meaning that it remains in force until the Kosovo Assembly adopts a new law to replace it.

Following the adoption of the Law on the Prohibition of Games of Chance in 2019, the Kosovo Lottery found itself in a legal vacuum, which led to the complete suspension of its operations, while its employees lost their jobs. The issue of the Kosovo Lottery's operation remains unresolved to this day.

Then-Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj presented the draft law in parliament, and it was adopted under an expedited procedure. The key reasons behind such a radical decision were two murders in gambling establishments that occurred within just a few days of each other in March 2019.

Employees of betting shops were killed in Suva Reka and Lipljan, and in one of the crimes a member of the Kosovo Police was directly involved.

This sparked public protests, with citizens demanding the immediate closure of all gambling venues.

Another reason for the urgent adoption of the gambling ban law was its connection to organized crime.

At the time, Kosovo authorities and security agencies pointed out that casinos and betting shops had become centers for money laundering, loan sharking, extortion, and other forms of serious organized crime.

In addition, a large number of betting shops were located in the immediate vicinity of schools and universities, which contributed to rising gambling addiction among young people and an increase in juvenile delinquency.

Due to the escalation of violence, political parties in Kosovo reached a rare consensus regarding the Law on the Prohibition of Games of Chance.

However, despite the legal ban, illegal gambling continues to exist, as evidenced by frequent police operations across Kosovo that uncover clandestine casinos, illegal gaming machines, and pyramid schemes.

In one of the largest operations in South Mitrovica, Istok, and Srbica, police searched nearly 50 locations and arrested 34 people for organizing pyramid schemes and illegal gambling. During the operation, €170,000 in cash, five vehicles, and firearms were seized.

The village of Karacevo was for years considered the main hub of illegal gambling. During operations that lasted for months between 2021 and 2022, more than 65 people were arrested, including casino owners, citizens, and police officers who assisted them. During these operations, 12 facilities built for illegal business activities were demolished and hundreds of poker machines were confiscated.

In Prizren, in April 2022, the Kosovo Police caught and arrested 13 people playing poker on illegal machines in a local establishment. The owner of the premises was placed in custody, while seven people were arrested in Urosevac.