TIRANA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The electronic casinos and sports betting shops will be banned in residential areas in Albania, starting from Jan. 1, the Albanian Council of Ministers took the decision on Wednesday.

In accordance with the law on "Games of Chance", starting from Dec. 31 this year, all electronic casinos located near residential areas in Albania will have to stop their operation.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the decision of the government.

Meanwhile, Rama explained that the National Lottery in Albania will not have any element of electronic casinos. "Since the National Lottery is a concession made in the past, it is based on a separate law," Rama said.

The law predicts the closure of casinos or their transfer to urban peripheries. The same fate will have the sports betting centers all around the country. Currently in Albania there are 20 betting and gambling companies that win 54 million U.S. dollars each year, according to local media reports.