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Kosovo bans gambling after casino murders Kosovo bans gambling after casino murders
(32 minutes later)
Kosovo has banned all gambling for the next decade in a bid to crack down on crime after two casino staff were murdered last week. Kosovo has banned all gambling for the next decade in an attempt to crack down on crime after two casino staff were murdered last week.
Betting, on sports in particular, has become hugely popular in recent years in Kosovo, one of the poorest areas in Europe, with about one-third of its 1.8 million population unemployed. Betting, particularly on sport, has become hugely popular in recent years in Kosovo, where about a third of its 1.8 million people are unemployed.
Speaking to parliament, which passed the bill late on Thursday, the prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said the measure was aimed at “strengthening public security”.Speaking to parliament, which passed the bill late on Thursday, the prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said the measure was aimed at “strengthening public security”.
“We will not allow these venues to be arenas of crime that claim people’s lives,” he wrote later on Facebook.“We will not allow these venues to be arenas of crime that claim people’s lives,” he wrote later on Facebook.
A police officer has been arrested as a suspect for one of killings, which took place earlier this month in two separate casinos in a matter of days. A police officer has been arrested as a suspect in one of killings, which took place earlier this month in two separate casinos within days of each other.
Before the ban, the police shuttered most of the 470 gambling sites in Kosovo. Before the ban, the police boarded up most of the 470 gambling venues in Kosovo.
Kosovo’s government rakes in €20m (£17m) annually through taxes on gambling. The government takes in €20m (£17m) annually through taxes on gambling.
Earlier this week, p Haradinaj said that only a state controlled lottery will be able to operate. “It is total chaos, a total abuse and it is good that we are stopping this,” he told a press conference. Earlier this week, Haradinaj said only a state-controlled lottery would be allowed to operate. “It is total chaos, a total abuse and it is good that we are stopping this,” he told a press conference.
The gambling industry has grown rapidly in the past 10 years. The Gambling Association of Kosovo says it employs 4,000 workers. Ruzhdi Kosumi, who owns 14 gambling shops, said 40 of his workers will be left jobless. The gambling industry has grown rapidly in the past 10 years. The Gambling Association of Kosovo said it employed 4,000 workers. Ruzhdi Kosumi, who owns 14 gambling shops, said 40 of his workers would be left jobless.
“The decision to close us was taken after two of our workers were killed. This is nonsense. We lost people and now we are losing our jobs,” Kosumi told Reuters.“The decision to close us was taken after two of our workers were killed. This is nonsense. We lost people and now we are losing our jobs,” Kosumi told Reuters.
With a third of its 1.8 million population unemployed, Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Political instability, crime and corruption have kept away investors. Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, is one of the poorest countries in Europe, with political instability, crime and corruption putting off investors.
The move comes after neighbouring Albania banned gambling in January in a bid to tackle organised crime and social ills such as addiction and poverty. Neighbouring Albania banned gambling in January in an attempt to tackle organised crime and social problems, such as addiction and poverty.
KosovoKosovo
GamblingGambling
EuropeEurope
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