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Turkey expands crackdown on illegal online gambling

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-09 11:42 UTC → 2026-09-29 16:33 UTC · added removed

Turkish authorities have expanded their crackdown on illegal online betting, games of chance, and virtual gambling. Following a presidential circular issued on November 1, in late 2025, the government implemented an Action Plan to Combat Illegal Betting, Games of Chance, and Gambling in Virtual Environments. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz has led coordination meetings in Ankara efforts to address the issue, these activities, which officials categorize as a threat to financial system security, social welfare, and transborder threats intersecting with organized crime prevention. The strategy involves enhancing technical capabilities to target websites, servers, and connection addresses. Recent efforts have expanded to include preventing the use of rental accounts, combating illegal payment methods, and addressing mass SMS campaigns used to redirect users to illegal sites. unregulated financial structures. To counter platforms that rapidly change domain names, Turkey is preparing to launch developing an artificial intelligence-supported ‘Illegal Betting Scanning and Detection System’. This AI-driven system aims System’ to identify new illegal platforms almost instantly networks and track digital footprints, including individual users and bank accounts, footprints through inter-agency data sharing. The strategy also includes reducing the appeal of legal gambling sites by modifying their visual designs and displaying public service announcements like ‘Don’t gamble with your life’. In September 2026, officials convened a panel in Ankara to address the rising threat of digital gambling addiction. Communication Director Burhanettin Duran warned that digital platforms utilize ‘dark patterns’ in design to manipulate user behavior. behavior, while RTÜK President Mehmet Daniş described emphasized the issue as need for a ‘multi-dimensional mobilization’ requiring coordination across legal, financial, health, involving media literacy and educational sectors. Vice President Yılmaz the protection of children from advertisements in sports broadcasting. Following these discussions, the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Legal Policy Board held a workshop at Çankaya Mansion to further implement the Action Plan. Mehmet Uçum, Deputy Chairman of the Legal Policy Board, stated that Turkey aims to bring the fight against these cross-border state cannot allow the digital crimes sphere to become a ‘lawless area,’ noting that illegal gambling has evolved into a dynamic ecosystem using social media and cross-border financial movements. Additionally, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak highlighted the international agenda. lack of controls for individuals under 18 in illegal systems, contrasting these activities with the regulated Spor Toto Organization Presidency, which supports youth infrastructure and student facilities.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-29 16:33 UTC Turkey expands crackdown on illegal online gambling
  2. 2026-09-09 11:42 UTC Turkey expands crackdown on illegal online gambling
  3. 2026-09-02 16:28 UTC Turkey expands crackdown on illegal online gambling
  4. 2026-08-15 08:59 UTC Turkey expands crackdown on illegal online gambling
  5. 2026-08-12 12:21 UTC Turkey crackdown on illegal online gambling

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