In a significant move against unlicensed gambling, Turkey’s Treasury and Finance Minister has led a crackdown on illegal betting activities. The country has made major strides in shutting down unauthorized gambling websites, with the latest figures showing a marked increase in enforcement actions.
According to the National Lottery Administration (MPI), Turkey successfully blocked 233,000 unlicensed gambling and betting sites in 2024. This is a substantial rise from the previous year when 168,030 sites were shut down. The blocked websites came from 95 countries, with the majority originating from the United States (56%), Armenia (17%), and the Netherlands (6%). The crackdown also targeted unauthorized draws and raffles, with 286 cases being forwarded to prosecutors.
Further legal action has been taken against these illegal websites, with criminal complaints filed against 375,367 sites and 6,731 unique domain names. These actions are part of Turkey’s broader strategy to combat illegal betting, which has long been a concern for the government.
Increased Operations and Public Support
The fight against illegal gambling has been stepped up with operations led by the Cyber Crimes Combat Department and the Gendarmerie General Command. These operations, which began in December, have targeted illegal gambling dens across the country. Dozens of suspects, including social media influencers who promoted illegal betting products, have been detained. The crackdown extends to celebrities and high-profile figures who have been linked to promoting unauthorized gambling.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya emphasized the significance of these efforts, stating that tackling illegal gambling is critical to protecting citizens and maintaining public order.
Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek reiterated Turkey’s commitment to eliminating unlicensed gambling activities. “We are determined to prevent unregistered economic activities and financial crimes that cause tax loss and victimisation of our citizens,” he stated. “We are taking all kinds of measures to prevent illegal betting, virtual gambling and unauthorised draws, and we will continue to do so.”
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