Turkish authorities have taken legal action against 15,710 suspects as part of a nationwide campaign targeting illegal betting networks and the financial schemes supporting their operations.
The results were announced by Turkey’s Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, who outlined the scale of investigations targeting activities that the government considers a threat to public safety, family welfare and the country’s economic stability.
Between February and 4 November 2026, law enforcement authorities conducted 901 operations across all 81 provinces of Turkey. As a result, 5,949 suspects were remanded in custody, while judicial control measures were imposed on a further 3,570 individuals. The overall figure of 15,710 includes people subject to investigative and pre-trial measures and does not mean that all of them have been found guilty.
Gürlek Takes the Lead in the Fight Against Illegal Gambling
In February, Akın Gürlek took over as Justice Minister, replacing Yılmaz Tunç. His appointment was personally approved by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Before taking office, Gürlek served as Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor. In his new role, he continued to oversee the government’s campaign against illegal betting.
Gürlek is responsible for implementing the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Action Plan to Combat Illegal Gambling. Commenting on the initiative, the minister stated: “In the century of Türkiye, we will resolutely continue reforms guided by the principle of a strong state and strong justice. Türkiye will maintain its uncompromising approach to combating crime.”
Reflecting on the first nine months of the campaign, Gürlek noted that law enforcement efforts were focused not only on identifying illegal betting platforms but also on tracing the sources of funding behind criminal networks and monitoring the associated financial flows.
“Illegal gambling is not simply unlawful activity; it is a serious threat that undermines public order, harms families and facilitates the activities of criminal organisations,” the minister emphasised.
The investigations were coordinated by the Department of Organised Crime, Narcotics and Economic Crimes. Prosecutors, the police, the gendarmerie and Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) also took part in the operation.
MASAK’s involvement allows Turkish authorities to combine financial intelligence with law enforcement efforts. In particular, investigators are tracing money flows and identifying connections between entities suspected of involvement in organising illegal betting activities.
According to the minister, financial investigations identified transactions worth TL2.63 trillion (approximately $52.42bn), $9.08bn and €3.49m (approximately $3.92m).
The figures were reported separately for each currency. They represent the volumes of financial transactions identified during the investigations, rather than the value of seized assets, criminal proceeds or financial losses incurred by the Turkish state.
“We are resolutely continuing our fight against this threat not only through operational measures, but also by identifying all the connections of criminal organisations and uncovering their illicit gains,” Gürlek said.
However, the minister did not disclose details of the suspects’ alleged involvement in illegal activities, specify the number of betting networks targeted by the investigations or clarify how many cases had progressed to trial and resulted in convictions.
Nevertheless, Gürlek’s statement indicates the government’s intention to target not only the operators of illegal betting networks but also the financial mechanisms supporting their activities.
The minister also pledged continued cooperation between judicial institutions, law enforcement agencies and financial investigators. These joint efforts are intended to help identify criminal networks and bring those involved to justice.
“No criminal organisation will be able to conceal its activities, cover up the trail of its illicit gains or escape justice,” Gürlek emphasised.
Erdoğan: State Must Resolve All Liabilities by 2027
The initial phase of the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) government campaign focused primarily on strengthening domestic enforcement against illegal gambling. At the same time, authorities proposed legislative amendments aimed at imposing tougher penalties for organising illegal betting activities. MASAK has become an important tool in these efforts, identifying suspicious financial transactions and tracing the financial structures servicing illegal operators.
However, the Turkish authorities’ activities extend beyond the country’s borders. Reports concerning the Papara investigation have also identified alleged illegal gambling infrastructure in North Macedonia, northern Cyprus, Georgia and Armenia. The allegations relate to networks suspected of operating in these jurisdictions. However, they do not establish any involvement by the governments of the respective countries.
International cooperation in tracking down suspects has already become part of the campaign. In May, Gürlek announced that Interpol Red Notices had been issued for suspects located outside Turkey. This highlights Ankara’s reliance on assistance from foreign law enforcement agencies to bring wanted individuals to justice.
For President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, achieving these objectives is particularly important ahead of the next presidential election, in which he intends to seek a fourth term as head of state.
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