Turkish prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for 72 individuals accused of involvement in an illegal sports betting operation that allegedly generated €66m in revenue, according to reports from the state-run Anadolu Agency.
The investigation, centred in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, uncovered what authorities describe as a clandestine betting network operating from three offices.
Financial investigators identified transactions totalling €66m ($78m) moving through bank accounts linked to the suspects.
Police have conducted coordinated raids across eight provinces, with multiple arrests already confirmed.
The latest action forms part of a broader crackdown on betting-related offences in Turkish football. In recent months, authorities and the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) have pursued disciplinary and criminal investigations targeting both legal and illegal wagering activities.
By the end of 2025, 149 referees had been suspended for periods ranging from eight to 12 months after internal audits found widespread betting account activity.
In addition, the TFF referred 1,024 players to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council under precautionary measures. Of those, 102 received sanctions lasting between 45 days and 12 months. While earlier probes focused on football professionals placing bets in breach of federation rules, recent investigations have increasingly targeted organised illegal betting networks.
Separately, prosecutors in Istanbul last week ordered judicial intervention at fourth-tier club Diyarbekirspor amid suspicions it was used to launder proceeds from illegal betting activities.
Land-based casinos have been banned in Turkey since 1998, and online gambling is only permitted through state-run monopolies
