Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has ordered stricter measures against the illegal gambling industry by signing a corresponding action plan.
The head of state expects tangible results by 2026, fulfilling his promise to the country’s citizens and families to completely eradicate illegal gambling.
On 1 November, the official gazette Resmi Gazete reported that Erdoğan had approved the “Action Plan for Combating Illegal Betting, Games of Chance, and Gambling in Virtual Environments (2025–2026).”
The document launches the 2025–2026 program of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), aimed at suppressing illegal betting, gambling, and online gaming. All government bodies involved in implementing the measures will report directly to the president.
The plan emphasizes: “Illegal gambling activities have undermined Turkey’s family unity, weakened social relations, and particularly targeted young people and all segments of society, not only cause harm but also increase the size of the unregistered economy and create grounds for the laundering of criminal proceeds, thereby posing a serious threat to public order.”
“Therefore, effective measures against illegal betting, games of chance, and gambling are of vital importance for ensuring public security, maintaining the integrity of the social structure, and sustaining economic and social welfare.”
The president’s signature carries decisive weight, as the fight against illegal gambling in Turkey is a key priority for the AKP.
Weeks of investigative reporting have revealed Turkey’s vulnerability to gambling addiction among children and adolescents — an issue that, politically significant, has drawn criticism of the government even from pro-AKP outlets, including Sabah and the Albayrak Media Group.
Additionally, Turkey’s national public health NGO Yeşilay (the Green Crescent) noted in its gambling report that 28% of all addiction consultations are related to gambling, reflecting growing demand for specialized support and treatment services.
In a cabinet meeting held before the publication of the action plan, Erdoğan expressed “shame” over the escalation of the national crisis and pledged that illegal online gambling would be completely eradicated by the next elections in 2027.
2025 Consequences
The 2025 crackdown on illegal gambling revealed the depth and complexity of Turkey’s underground gambling networks, which continue to evolve faster than regulators can respond.
Authorities have shut down hundreds of unlicensed betting sites and crypto casinos, yet many simply migrated to new domains, social platforms, or payment systems, highlighting the challenges of controlling cross-border digital markets.
The Papara scandal emerged as the year’s most significant case: the CEO of the Istanbul-based fintech company was charged with facilitating ₺12.9 billion (€340 million / $372 million) in illegal gambling transactions through over 26,000 user accounts.
Investigations by MASAK and Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) indicate that the state now possesses a comprehensive map of gambling operators and technology providers targeting Turkish consumers, including those channeling funds through offshore exchanges, e-wallets, and payment APIs.
These findings have reinforced Ankara’s position that the black market poses a national security threat that cannot be addressed solely through domestic law enforcement.
Interagency Coordination
The circular mandates the mobilization of all government bodies, led by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), acting as the central coordinator between ministries, regulators, and law enforcement agencies.
Under the action plan, MASAK is responsible for detecting and cutting off the financial lifelines of illegal gambling—from banks and fintech companies to crypto gateways and P2P payment services.
Within this framework, the intelligence agency will directly coordinate with various state bodies to enforce the new regulations, including the Ministry of Interior, which oversees cybercrime units and provincial police.
• The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) will block access to gambling websites, apps, and digital platforms;
• The Ministry of Treasury and Finance will tighten payment oversight and anti-money laundering measures;
• The Ministry of Justice has been authorized to prioritize prosecutions and evidence-handling for illegal gambling cases;
• The Directorate of Communications will supervise the removal of gambling advertising and paid influencer content.
Collectively, these bodies will implement what the circular describes as a “comprehensive, nationwide initiative encompassing virtual, financial, and promotional channels to restore control over Turkey’s online environment.”
Targeting Technology, Media, and Foreign Jurisdictions
The circular issues stern warnings to Turkish tech companies, media outlets, and social platforms accused of indirectly supporting illegal gambling through lax content moderation, ad sales, or influencer collaborations.
Media organizations are required to reject gambling-related advertising, while social media platforms and app stores face new oversight for any content facilitating unlicensed play. Non-compliance may result in license reviews, fines, or access restrictions imposed by BTK.
Internationally, Ankara is targeting foreign jurisdictions allegedly hosting or licensing illegal operators targeting Turkish users, notably in Malta, Montenegro, Cyprus, North Macedonia, and Georgia.
The Turkish government intends to pursue bilateral cooperation and, if necessary, impose sanctions on states and entities facilitating cross-border gambling networks.
As stated in the circular: “Although this fight is currently being carried out in a multifaceted manner, the technological and financial infrastructure achieved by these activities and their cross-border dimension make it essential to strengthen the legal and administrative infrastructure, increase technical competence and inspection capacity, improve inter-institutional coordination, promote cooperation with international organizations for resolving the issue at its source, and expand awareness-raising activities to protect our citizens.”
The document underscores that illegal gambling represents both a domestic and transnational threat, framing Turkey’s crackdown within the broader context of financial crime and cybersecurity enforcement.
Opposition Blames AKP for Inaction
Opposition parties have criticized the government for its delayed response to a problem that has been known to authorities for more than a decade.
CHP lawmaker Muharrem İnce accused the AKP of “political theatre,” stating that “if the state had the will, online gambling could have been stopped in three days back in 2014.”
Other parties, including the Yenilik Partisi (YKP), fear that the crackdown on illegal gambling will bypass politically sensitive connections in the country’s financial and technology sectors.
Meanwhile, the AKP has no plans to revise or relax Turkey’s strict gambling laws, which reserve all wagering rights for state monopolies—Spor Toto for sports betting and Milli Piyango for lottery and instant games.
The government insists that prohibition, reinforced by enforcement, remains the only effective measure to protect public order and social stability.
Erdoğan Needs a Victory
2025 has been a period of serious challenges for President Erdoğan and his ruling AKP, according to many political experts.
Erdoğan’s domestic authority was shaken following the government’s response to the March protests in Istanbul, triggered by the arrest of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, widely regarded as Erdoğan’s most formidable opponent ahead of the 2027 elections.
Additionally, the AKP faces growing public dissatisfaction with the government’s economic policies. High inflation, volatile currency exchange rates, and a rapidly weakening lira have eroded consumer confidence and household savings.
Turkey’s heavy reliance on imported energy adds further pressure, while no comprehensive reform plan has yet been introduced to reduce the financial burden on citizens.
Against this backdrop, Erdoğan’s anti-gambling campaign carries both political and moral significance.
The president needs a decisive political victory to strengthen his authority and stabilize leadership, while the opposition views this moment as the most vulnerable phase of his 11-year presidency, when a once-unshakable leader faces mounting challenges both on the streets and in the economy.
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