Turkish authorities are intensifying their fight against illegal online gambling. Banks have started sending direct warnings to customers, highlighting the legal risks of participating in or facilitating unauthorized betting. This initiative comes from Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, who is leading the AKP government’s comprehensive “Action Plan” against illicit gambling. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan fully backs the effort, coordinating multiple government agencies to enforce it nationwide.
Banks Warn Customers After New Legal Measures
Following the December 15 approval of the 11th Judicial Package, banks now alert clients about the consequences of illegal betting. The legal overhaul expands prosecutors’ powers to seize assets, suspend operations, and pursue financial crimes linked to gambling. Turkey’s Penal Code now enforces harsher prison sentences and fines for individuals or groups involved in illegal betting.
Banks and payment companies must also block financial pipelines that feed unlicensed gambling sites. Failure to comply could result in heavier fines, asset freezes, and the temporary lockdown of accounts—up to 48 hours during investigations. Moreover, financial institutions must provide transaction records, account histories, and payment details to prosecutors or courts within 10 days, or face administrative fines and potential criminal liability for management.
MASAK Leads the Anti-Gambling Effort
MASAK, Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board, spearheads this crackdown. The agency has ramped up monitoring of bank transfers, digital wallets, and payment intermediaries in collaboration with prosecutors and the Interior Ministry. Tunç emphasized that detecting suspicious financial activity early is crucial to tracing money flows and preventing funds from leaving the country or being hidden.
The crackdown has already produced results. In December, authorities arrested 42 suspects in a large-scale illegal betting probe. Investigators uncovered transactions exceeding 6 billion Turkish lira (≈140 million euros) and seized bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, framing illegal betting as a serious organized financial crime.
Banks and Media Face Increased Scrutiny
Major banks, including Ziraat Bankası, Türkiye İş, and Garanti BBVA, led the initial wave of warnings during the Christmas period. Mobile payment apps and digital wallets will soon face the same compliance obligations, ensuring fintechs are equally accountable.
The crackdown has extended to the media. GAIN Medya, affiliated with Anahat Holding, became the target of investigations into illegal betting, organized crime, and money laundering. Authorities arrested top executives and placed seven companies under trusteeship via the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund. Officials also seized corporate assets, bank accounts, and property, signaling a bold move into the national media landscape.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond
Justice Minister Tunç has vowed to continuously amend or introduce laws to maintain pressure on illegal gambling. MASAK and the Justice Ministry plan international cooperation with countries such as Cyprus, Georgia, North Macedonia, and Armenia, which allegedly host sites targeting Turkish players. President Erdoğan has confirmed that enforcement will intensify through 2026, aiming to dismantle these networks before the next general election and hold all responsible agencies accountable for results.
