According to local media, Turkey is reportedly planning stricter laws against illegal online gambling, including possible prison sentences not only for operators but also for players. The aim of the new rules is to increase deterrence.
According to recent data, between 2006 and 2026, a total of 585,645 illegal websites were identified and 555,574 were blocked. Despite this, criminal networks continue to re-emerge using new domains and mirror sites.
Under current law, operators face prison sentences of three to five years, while players are fined between TL 100,000 and TL 400,000 under the Misdemeanours Law.
Some estimates suggest illegal gambling has exceeded $40bn in economic impact, including addiction and related social harm.
In separate news from this week, Turkish authorities detained 111 suspects after carrying out coordinated raids across 41 provinces in an investigation into alleged illegal betting activity and the laundering of criminal proceeds.
Turkey is stepping up its enforcement against illegal gambling. Just recently, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal betting, online gambling, drug trafficking and organised crime.
Gürlek said instructions have been issued for the judiciary to apply the toughest sanctions, adding that investigations are being closely monitored.
At the end of last year, former Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç outlined a series of measures targeting illegal gambling, referencing the November “Action Plan for Combating Illegal Betting, Games of Chance and Gambling in Digital Environments”.
The 11th Judiciary Package introduced expanded powers, including the suspension of suspicious bank accounts for up to 48 hours, the immediate seizure of illicit gains and the direct restitution of funds to victims.
Earlier this month, Turkey blocked 15 social media accounts over illegal gambling promotion
