Turkey’s largest public health NGO dedicated to addiction prevention and research, Yeşilay (The Green Crescent), has published its report “Kumar Raporu 2025” (Gambling Report 2025). The document presents a detailed analysis of gambling trends, addiction levels, and the social and financial consequences of gambling-related harm in Turkey.
The report notes that since the COVID-19 pandemic, gambling addiction in Turkey has intensified due to the shift of players to digital platforms – both legal and illegal. According to the data, one in ten Turkish residents over the age of 15 has gambled at least once in the past month, and this rate continues to grow.
Early exposure is of particular concern, despite the legal gambling age being set at 18. The fact that individuals start gambling as early as 15 highlights the urgent need for stronger protective measures and educational campaigns. The increase in early involvement is directly linked to greater accessibility of online gambling during and after the pandemic.
Between 2021 and 2024, more than 15,600 people sought help at YEDAM counselling centers, operated by Yeşilay. Gambling-related cases already account for 28% of all consultations. At the same time, the psychological harm from gambling is considered especially severe, with rising instances of shame, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. 20% of people with gambling addiction attempt suicide – more than with any other form of addiction.
The report also highlights a generational divide: digital gambling platforms – mobile betting apps, online casinos, esports betting, and loot boxes in video games – have become key drivers of addiction among young people. These channels have made gambling more accessible, private, and “normalized,” blurring the line between gaming and gambling.
Beyond individual harm, the report points to financial and family consequences: debt, loss of savings, and even bankruptcy affect not only gamblers but also their partners, children, and relatives. The lack of support structures exacerbates the problem.
Despite strict legal restrictions on gambling, the report records an increase in illegal and offshore platforms, particularly online. These uncontrolled resources bypass domestic rules and expose vulnerable players to high-risk gambling. “Without stronger regulation and digital oversight, the scale and consequences of gambling addiction will only grow in the coming years,” Yeşilay concludes.
This concern is echoed internationally. Commenting on the wider implications of unregulated gambling environments, Stasya Yautodzyeva, Head of Analytics at 4H Agency, said: “The absence of formal regulation in the gambling sector significantly increases public health risks by removing institutional oversight and enabling uncontrolled market growth: excessive gambling behaviour can flourish unchecked, particularly among vulnerable and low-income populations who are more susceptible to addiction and financial harm.”
Regarding current policies, the NGO points to gaps in the law. New gambling formats have gone beyond the framework of the 2007 Gambling and Sports Betting Law, introduced under the AKP government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. However, the report does not provide concrete recommendations for legislative reform.
While Yeşilay does not directly criticize Turkey’s legal system, it clearly suggests that existing legislation is outdated and does not reflect the realities of 2025.
The findings carry political weight. Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, a key figure in Erdoğan’s administration, admitted at a meeting of the High Council for Combating Addictions that gambling addiction remains a “blind spot” in the country’s national strategy.
“We have made progress in combating drugs, smoking, alcohol, and digital addictions, but gambling, especially online gambling, remains a gap that must be addressed,” Yılmaz said.
Yılmaz’s remarks have fueled speculation that President Erdoğan may be forced to review gambling policy.
Ali Babacan, former AKP minister and now opposition leader, warned: “Any serious investigation into illegal gambling would expose networks tied to Erdoğan’s inner circle.”
These accusations intensified after the Papara scandal, in which the CEO of the Istanbul-based fintech app was accused of facilitating illegal betting worth over ₺12.9bn (€340m) through 26,000 user accounts. The government’s silence has only deepened public suspicion that powerful circles are protecting the illegal sector.
In 2025, authorities announced stepped-up efforts against the illegal gambling market, calling for police and intelligence agencies to act as aggressively as they do in the fight against narcotics. However, no real progress has been made so far. The opposition doubts the government will act decisively and transparently, as this could implicate political allies or cut off hidden revenue streams.
“We cannot effectively combat gambling addiction if laws protect some and punish others,” Babacan stressed.
As the psychological, social, and economic harms of gambling addiction escalate, a key question emerges: Will Turkey acknowledge its policy failings and finally treat gambling addiction as a public health issue rather than a criminal matter?
Until that happens, the most vulnerable groups – especially young people – remain at risk, caught between a rapidly growing digital gambling industry and a system unable to regulate it.
Commenting on the Turkey’s of policy inertia, Stasya Yautodzyeva, of 4H Agency, concluded: “Without licensing systems, mandatory self-exclusion tools, and enforceable harm-reduction protocols, consumers are left exposed to predatory practices – often driven by aggressive, unmonitored advertising and the operations of illegal online platforms.
The regulatory vacuum not only weakens consumer protection but also renders public health planning ineffective. With no data reporting obligations for operators and no centralized monitoring of gambling activity, governments are left unaware of the scale and severity of gambling-related harm.”
In summary, detailed and enforceable regulation remains the only effective tool to protect players. Without it, both citizens and state institutions will be left to “operate in the dark.”
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