Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha said the decision would have a social impact in reducing the unprecedented spread of gambling and casinos in the capital
TIRANA, Oct. 10 – Casinos operating in Tirana will face high tax rates if they continue operating downtown and don’t transfer their activity in Shkoza, outside Tirana. The decision was made this week by right-wing councilors of Tirana’s municipal council while the opposition Socialist Party boycotted the vote, saying the council had violated its regulation by failing to convene for three consecutive months.
Speaking at the municipal council meeting, Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha said the decision would have a social impact in reducing the unprecedented spread of gambling and casinos in the capital.
“Our goal is not depriving people of their right to gambling, but make access for those who spend their food and medicine money in casinos only because they are next to their homes as difficult as difficult as possible,” said Basha.
Under the decision, all people licensed to operate in gambling activities in Tirana will be imposed the temporary gambling tax whose rates have been divided into three zones.
For casinos and electronic casinos, the temporary tax rate until June 30, 2013 will vary from 500 lek/m2 to 1,000 lek/m2 based on three zones known as A, B and C on Tirana’s map. After June 30, the temporary tax rate will increase from 5,000 lek/m2 to 10,000 lek/m2.
For other gambling activities such as sport betting, national lotteries and traditional and TV bingos the tax rate has been set at 5,000 lek/month.
Some 20 licensed electronic casinos with 81 slot-machine halls operate in Tirana. Seven sport betting companies with 801 points of sales and ten bingos also operate in the capital, according to the Gambling Supervisory Unit.
The municipal council decision foresees casinos will be transferred to the former auto-tractors plant in Shkoza, which is a Tirana Municipality property.
