Albania bans casinos, betting shops from residential areas

Albania's parliament has voted to relocate all casinos and betting shops out of residential areas to curb their spread.

The parliament on Thursday voted 75-0 to close casinos by Dec. 31, including shops taking bets on sports, animal races and also online bets pages abroad, and move them to the outskirts of cities and towns.

Casinos and sport betting shops fill each city in the country, one of the poorest in Europe.

The vote came as the opposition has been boycotting the post-summer plenary sessions.

Finance Minister Arben Ahmetaj said next year's budget has not included tax revenues from the casinos and betting shops, which was $54 million last year.

Media outlets have been told to stop "illegal" gambling advertising or they will be "closed by force."