FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Laws on online betting and cannabis cultivation have come into effect since 2023–2024, but the lack of bylaws has blocked the licensing process...
Parliament passed laws legalizing online gambling and cannabis cultivation with the aim of formalizing the market and increasing budget revenues. However, the responsible ministries have not issued the bylaws within the established deadlines, delaying the granting of licenses. In the meantime, the relevant commissions have been established and have held paid meetings, but without opening the application processes. The situation has raised debates on the implementation of the law and the impact of this delay on unlicensed activities and state revenues.
There are two illegal businesses in Albania: online betting and cannabis, which are operated by criminal groups linked to the government, and therefore, are untouchable by the police.
To legalize them, parliament has approved two separate laws in 2023-2024, with the aim of stopping criminal activities and ensuring revenue for the state budget.
But Prime Minister Edi Rama, for 3 years now through former Finance Minister Anila Denaj, former Health Minister Albana Koçiu and now through ministers Petrit Malaj and Evis Sala, has not allowed the issuance of bylaws and the granting of licenses for cannabis betting.
On April 1, 2024, the law allowing online betting came into force, according to which the Ministry of Finance was required to issue bylaws by July 2024 and submit them to the government.
By September 2024, the acts had to be approved by the government, while the Ministry of Finance, as the responsible department, by October of that year, had to have selected and provided 10 companies with licenses for online betting activities.
On July 21, 2023, the law allowing the cultivation of cannabis came into force, which states that the Ministry of Health should have issued the sub-legal acts and submitted them to the government for approval by October 2023, while licenses should be issued by December.
On May 22, 2024, without the approval of the bylaws, Prime Minister Edi Rama signed three decisions: one to establish the National Cannabis Agency, and two decisions to establish commissions that will license online betting and cannabis activity.
The Commission for Licensing Betting Companies is composed of the Minister of Finance, 1 representative from the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, 1 from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, and 1 from the National Agency for the Information Society.
The Cannabis Licensing Commission consists of the Minister of Health and 2 of his subordinates, 1 from the Ministry of Interior, 2 from the Ministry of Agriculture, and 1 from the Minister of Economy and Innovation.
Members of the two betting and cannabis licensing commissions are paid a 300 Euro bonus for each meeting, a total of 12 meetings per year, while the chairmen receive 350 Euro; and according to information available to "Pamphlet", they have stated that they have made and receive payments every month.
But since 2024, the licensing competitions for companies have not opened, because the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health have not issued the bylaws, leaving open ground for criminal cannabis betting activities.
It is unbelievable that ministers are not implementing the laws on licenses without the order of Prime Minister Edi Rama, when it is known that with one word from him, they have signed illegal deals.
If Edi Rama is not under pressure from the online betting mafia and the cannabis mafia; then he is a collaborator with them, to allow these illegal activities, which are being carried out openly, untouched by the state police.
Criminal groups linked to the government and state police operate unlicensed gambling activities; as do cannabis businesses, from which, if the companies were licensed, the state budget would benefit by 110 million Euros per year.
Confidential information from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health say that by verbal order of Edi Rama, licenses for cannabis betting will not be granted until the end of 2027, meaning that until then they will be carrying out illegal activities.
It has often been said that Olsi Rama and groups close to him and several ministers are involved in the illegal betting business; while in the illegal cannabis activity, it is said that Tomë Doshi and several other criminal groups, who are dark connections of Edi Rama, are involved./ Pamphlet
Hyp se te vrava, zhdryp se te vrava. Edi prape sulmohet ndonese ai i ka ndaluar keto sidomos bastet kur ishin bere si kepurdha ne cdo qoshe dhe familjet po shkaterroheshin cdo dite. Uroj qe ligji per bastet te mos zbatohet dhe te anulohet.