Authorities Take Action Against Gambling Promotions
The Turkish Advertising Board, working under the Trade Ministry, confirmed that it has blocked 30 social media accounts for promoting illegal gambling. The decision followed a review. It found multiple advertisements in violation of Turkey’s Regulation on Commercial Advertising and Unfair Practices, as well as the Consumer Protection Law.
The accounts now face permanent closure. This will occur if their operators do not remove the offending posts before the final action takes place.
Strict Gambling Laws in Turkey
Turkey has long maintained a hardline stance on gambling. Land-based casinos were banned in 1998, and online gambling never gained legal ground before being outlawed in 2006.
The country’s tough approach made headlines. Entain received one of the largest fines in gambling history. The company was penalized £585 million ($786.7 million) by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service for bribery-related violations linked to its Turkish-facing business.
Social Media Platforms Under Pressure
In recent months, Turkish regulators have stepped up efforts to enforce strict content censorship rules. Global social media platforms now face increasing pressure to comply with local laws, including blocking gambling-related promotions.
Criminal Networks Still Active
Despite the ban, unregulated gambling continues to pose challenges. In 2019, authorities detained 113 suspects for allegedly operating an illegal gambling den. Another 709 individuals were arrested for additional crimes, some unrelated to gambling.
Although casinos have been outlawed for nearly two decades, crime syndicates continue to run underground gambling operations. This makes enforcement a persistent issue.
