Football- or lotto-mania?

TIRANA, June 15 – The World Cup fever has engulfed Albania. But what one may see different this time from, say, four years ago, is more attention and focus on the soccer bets.
The World Cup matches are broadcast live from the main public television station TVSH and also private Super Sport channels.
That means that all Albanians, even though unable to pay money for the digital service are capable of following the soccer matches
All the main television stations have organized public shows, talk shows that last for hours and involve many personalities of whatever field.
Moreover a private television station, TV Klan holds a daily show on soccer bets in the evening, just before the third match of the day. It accepts and makes suggestions on how people could bet to win money.
Post-communist Albanians are focused in betting. There are more than a dozen betting companies where poor Albanians, still one of the poorest population in Europe, spend up to 100 million euros a year, according to some still unconfirmed sources from the finance authorities.
Betting shops are spread all around the capital, Tirana. People have learnt of so many betting ways offered this time from the world as well.
Yes, football has turned into a big business but it may be still considered a good omen in this country if compared to its politics.