Turkey Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Gambling Networks

Turkey.- 19 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Turkey’s Government has launched a new phase of its national campaign against illegal online betting and gambling, moving beyond website blocking to target the financial, technological and criminal infrastructure supporting the black market.

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said the state would deploy its full institutional capacity against an activity Ankara increasingly regards as both an economic and social threat.

New Phase of National Action Plan

Yılmaz chaired a monitoring and coordination meeting in Ankara on 12 August covering the Action Plan for Combating Illegal Betting, Games of Chance and Gambling in Virtual Environments.

The strategy was adopted through a presidential circular on 1 November 2025.

The framework brought previously separate enforcement initiatives together under a single system, with implementation monitored every two months by Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).

Coordination meetings chaired by the Vice President are also held every four months.

Wider Threat Beyond Illegal Gambling

The Government no longer considers illegal betting solely a law-enforcement issue.

Its strategy links the black market to:

  • Money laundering.
  • Organised crime.
  • Risks to the financial system.
  • Protection of children and young people.
  • Social welfare.
  • International illicit payment networks.

The objective is to target both illegal gambling supply and the infrastructure used to fund and maintain it.

Stronger Controls on Platforms and Communications

Turkish authorities have increased their capacity to identify and block illegal websites, servers and associated links.

Controls are also being strengthened around:

  • Bulk SMS marketing.
  • Anonymous and foreign-linked communications.
  • Multiple mobile subscriptions.
  • Weaknesses in identity-verification procedures.

The approach is intended to limit illegal operators’ ability to rapidly rebuild their presence after domains are blocked.

Financial Infrastructure Under Scrutiny

The campaign is also expanding into banking and payments.

Authorities are increasing scrutiny of:

  • Rented or transferred bank accounts.
  • Illegal payment infrastructure.
  • Methods used to transfer criminal proceeds.
  • Accounts identified as high risk.

The aim is to identify and shut down the structures used to move money generated by illegal betting networks.

Artificial Intelligence Becomes a New Tool

Turkey is also developing an Illegal Betting and Gambling Scanning and Detection System supported by artificial intelligence.

The Cyber Security Presidency will play a central role in the system, which is intended to detect illegal gambling sites more quickly and respond to black-market operators’ ability to switch domains, servers and payment channels.

AI-supported systems may also be used to identify networks and users connected to illegal operations.

AI Already Used in Financial Investigations

Turkish authorities have already begun using AI-supported financial analysis against major illegal betting networks.

In July, an investigation centred on Gaziantep combined MASAK banking information with AI-supported analysis.

Authorities identified hundreds of suspects linked to more than three million transactions worth approximately TRY84.3 billion (€1.75 billion).

#OyunaGelme Awareness Campaign

Enforcement is only one part of the strategy.

On 9 August, the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications launched the #OyunaGelme public-awareness campaign addressing virtual gambling and illegal betting.

Videos, graphics and infographics warn consumers about:

  • Promises of easy money.
  • Chasing losses.
  • Misleading advertising.
  • Social-media content that normalises betting.
  • Celebrity-led gambling promotions.

The Government is therefore seeking to reduce both illegal supply and consumer demand.

More Than 548,000 Websites Blocked

Official figures demonstrate the scale of the challenge.

Between 2006 and 2025, Turkey blocked access to 548,420 illegal betting and virtual gambling websites.

A total of 84,585 sites were blocked during 2025 alone.

However, Ankara believes domain blocking is no longer sufficient because illegal networks can rapidly rebuild their technological infrastructure.

Statements

Cevdet Yılmaz said Turkey is implementing a proactive strategy designed to stay ahead of illegal networks.

He also stressed that investigations will look beyond individual accounts and gambling websites to target the payment infrastructure and organised structures operating behind them.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek has also adopted a tougher tone, warning that authorities will pursue everyone involved, from lower-level participants to organised criminal networks.

Next Steps or Impact

Turkey’s next enforcement phase will progressively shift attention from individual websites towards the wider networks sustaining the illegal market.

Artificial intelligence, financial surveillance, payment controls and cooperation between government agencies will become central components of the strategy.

For illegal operators and associated infrastructure providers, regulatory pressure will increasingly target both their digital presence and the financial mechanisms used to receive, transfer and conceal funds.

Editó: @fonta

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