Turkey expands crackdown on illegal online betting and gambling

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz chaired a coordination meeting in Ankara regarding the Action Plan to Combat Illegal Betting, Games of Chance, and Gambling in Virtual Environments. The meeting addressed the multi-dimensional nature of illegal gambling, noting it is no longer just a public order issue but a threat to financial system security, organized crime prevention, and social welfare.

Under the action plan, which was implemented following a presidential circular on November 1, 2025, authorities have increased their capacity to intervene against illegal platforms. This includes enhanced technical capabilities to target websites, servers, and connection addresses used by illegal operators. New measures have also been introduced to control mobile lines, strengthen identity verification processes, and monitor subscription audits.

The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) is monitoring the implementation process every two months, while a coordination meeting is held every four months under the Vice President's leadership. Efforts are also being directed toward preventing the use of rental accounts and illegal payment methods, as well as combating mass SMS campaigns that redirect users to illegal sites.