A recent interdisciplinary study examining Turkey's digital gambling landscape highlights that the issue is not merely a matter of personal choice but has grown into a considerable public health, regulatory, and financial integrity concern.
The research, conducted in partnership with gambling support organization Yeşilay Danışmanlık Merkezi (YEDAM), analyzed interconnected datasets spanning from 2020 through April 2025.
This included data from over 22,000 helpline calls, 14,458 initial clinical assessments, and 3,767 social-service records, complemented by detailed interviews and consultations with policy experts.
The findings identified a systemic dependency on gambling, which was driven by three interconnected factors: continuous access to digital gambling platforms, seamless payment systems, and platform designs tailored to encourage ongoing engagement with gambling activities.
When evaluating customer profiles and usage patterns, the study found that the average age of individuals seeking treatment was 34.7 years. Problematic gambling crossed socio-economic divides, affecting individuals with secondary education and stable jobs.
Men accounted for around 97% of treatment cases, although the researchers suggested that women might be underrepresented in treatment rather than absent from gambling. The highest prevalence was noted among the younger adult group (ages 26-35) and the mid-career cohort (ages 36-45).
Data revealed that approximately 83.7% of participants concealed their gambling from family members, and nearly 46% experienced social exclusion. Many reported gambling during work hours, which led to diminished focus and productivity. Occupations at high risk included security workers, gig economy participants, and low-income self-employed individuals.
While most initial gambling exposure occurred through sports betting, there has been a notable shift toward online casino games. The growth of fast and often opaque financial options such as digital wallets, instant credit offers, and off-platform payment systems has significantly exacerbated gambling-related issues.
Many individuals financed their gambling activities using credit cards, loans from family, or informal lenders, often accumulating considerable debt. Approximately 84% reported gambling-related financial liabilities, with 49.8% owing more than 100,000 TL ($2,033). Borrowing sources primarily included family (52%) and banks (28%), with women seemingly more reliant on credit cards (37.1%) compared to men's preference for cash (58%).
The report highlighted that targeted promotions, loyalty programs, auto-play features, and aggressive retargeting strategies increased gambling risks. The design of these platforms often encouraged longer user sessions, leading to a diminished awareness of resultant losses.
To address these issues, the study called on regulated operators to enhance their focus beyond mere compliance with advertising regulations, advocating for comprehensive product governance centered around consumer harm prevention.
The comparative analysis with regulatory frameworks from the UK, Germany, Nordic countries, and the US indicated that there isn’t a universal solution, prompting the report to recommend targeted harm reduction strategies alongside enhanced digital oversight.
Recommended financial controls include the implementation of AI-driven transaction monitoring and improved coordination among MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board), banking regulators, and law enforcement bodies. The report also proposed adopting internationally recognized restrictions, like deposit limits and better usage of self-exclusion tools across licensed gambling services.
It further emphasized the need for urgent updates to digital advertising regulations, including legal definitions for "indirect gambling promotion" and stricter guidelines for youth-oriented media platforms.
YEDAM's data illuminated a significant unmet need for counseling services, largely due to stigma surrounding help-seeking behavior. Thus, the report suggested scaling digital counseling offerings, establishing anonymous helplines, and creating family support and group therapy programs.
In tandem with promoting sustainable gambling practices, Turkey has also intensified efforts to dismantle illegal betting operations. Last month, national law enforcement conducted extensive operations targeting illegal betting networks across eight provinces, following investigations that revealed financial activities involving 177 suspects. These activities corresponded with suspicious transactions that totaled TL17.75 billion.
This crackdown was initiated after Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi described the black market as a "scourge that corrupts society." He stated, "The annual cost of illegal gambling to Türkiye is $40 billion. Gambling has moral and social dimensions. For every gambling amount, there is a young person’s ruined future. According to our beliefs, gambling is haram [forbidden]."
