Newsletters
In the latest operations, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office have targeted illegal betting organizations operating on social media platforms. The move comes as authorities grapple with the increasing prevalence of unregistered gambling activities, which pose a significant threat to Türkiye's economy and its citizens.
This crackdown highlights the global nature of online gambling and the challenges in combating international financial crime.
Betting and games of chance are often linked to illegal activities, such as money laundering, tax evasion and the financing of organized crime and terrorist organizations. For this reason, many countries have introduced legal regulations to restrict betting and gambling activities, imposing severe penalties for violations.
In Türkiye, betting is subject to strict regulations, with only licensed companies permitted to organize betting and games of chance determined under Law No. 7258. Legal betting refers to activities that are conducted under government-issued licenses under the law, ensuring compliance with financial, operational and ethical standards.
Any betting activity that operates outside the scope of Turkish gambling laws, even if licensed elsewhere, is considered illegal within Turkish jurisdiction.
Under Article 5 of Law No. 7258, the following penalties apply to illegal betting activities in Türkiye:
Many illegal betting organizations, primarily targeting Turkish users, disguise their operations by claiming to be based abroad. These organizations often register in tax havens like Curacao and Malta, known for their lax regulations. These jurisdictions allow anyone to register financial accounts with minimal scrutiny, regardless of the source of funds. Therefore, they readily obtain licenses from these countries' authorities and are recognized as legitimate international corporations. This official status enables them to sustain their operations, including sponsoring prestigious events like UEFA competitions.
These countries with loose regulations then allow for illegal gambling networks to launder money easily, using loaned bank accounts, cryptocurrency and shell companies.
The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) data indicates:
Illegal betting organizations are pervasive, operating both online and offline. Social media accounts, particularly those focused on football, are rife with illegal website links and watermarks, reaching millions of potential customers.
Additionally, street walls, especially near public transportation hubs, are often adorned with logos and slogans promoting these illegal operations. Even national TV channels frequently fail to censor billboards displaying illegal betting advertisements during football matches.
Fenerbahce Vice President Acun Ilicali, also the owner of the digital platform EXXEN and the national channel TV8, has faced significant criticism for the apparent promotion of illegal betting during live UEFA tournaments. Ilicali recently defended himself, claiming that it is technically impossible to hide these promotions during live streams, as the signal is received externally from foreign service providers. He asserted that neither TV8 nor EXXEN are directly involved in the placement of these advertisements.
Recently, Galatasaray also faced a similar controversy when one of its sponsors, posing as a legitimate hotel chain, was revealed to be linked to an illegal betting organization. Following public outcry, Galatasaray terminated the two-year, $7 million per year sponsorship deal.
On Nov. 11, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants for 23 individuals as part of an investigation into a social media network. Among those targeted were well-known influencers and celebrities such as Batuhan Karadeniz, Mehmet Ali Erbil and Serdar Ortac.
Suspects were accused of promoting illegal betting through social media. Some 16 suspects face charges of advertising and promoting illegal betting, 12 were kept in custody, while two minors were released under judicial supervision. While Erbil and Ortac were placed under house arrest, Batuhan Karadeniz has been identified as a fugitive abroad.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc stated the investigations are still ongoing. Further operations and detentions are anticipated as law enforcement continues to track and identify individuals and organizations involved in these illicit activities.
According to a statement from the Interior Ministry, between September 2023 and August 2024, 2,880 operations were conducted against illegal bookmakers, resulting in:
The National Lottery Administration (MPI) identifies websites hosting unauthorized gambling and betting activities online, reporting them to the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). Last year, 168,030 sites were flagged, while from January to September this year, 183,260 sites were identified and reported for access restrictions.
An average of 20,000 sites per month have been subjected to preventative measures this year. Of the sites blocked in the first nine months, 98,000 were based in the U.S., 32,000 originated from Armenia, and 12,000 from the Netherlands.
Since the strengthening of legislation on illegal gambling in 2006, a total of 422,594 sites have been reported, with access restrictions imposed on 393,013 of them.
1 min read
