According to the ministry, the operation targeted 177 people suspected of running illegal betting websites and moving gambling proceeds through the country’s financial system, which is a criminal offense under the country’s Law No. 7258. Cybercrime and anti-smuggling units, the Financial Crimes Investigation Board, and local prosecutors conducted raids in Adıyaman, Konya, Manisa, Muğla, Tekirdağ, Siirt, Muş, and Çorum.
Deputy Minister of Interior, Ali Çelik, commented:
“If we can eliminate this sector, we will also minimize the funds flowing into the hands of the next criminal organisation.”
President of the Turkish Green Crescent Society, Mehmet Dinç, also stated:
“In the fight against gambling, combating supply alone is not enough. Combating demand alone is not enough; merely shutting down websites is not enough.”
Additionally, Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi called illegal betting a threat to society and pointed to digital payments and crypto as the main drivers behind the growth in money laundering.
At the same time, the Turkish government has shared that authorities blocked 548,420 illegal betting and gambling platforms between 2006 and 2025, of which 84,000 were blocked in just 2025.
