Turkey is intensifying its efforts to combat illegal betting, with Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi labeling this underground market as a significant national security issue. In a recent interview with Habertürk, Çiftçi revealed the staggering impact of illegal gambling on the nation, estimating the annual cost to be around $40 billion.
He underscored the moral and social implications of gambling, stating, "For every gambling amount, there is a young person's ruined future. According to our beliefs, gambling is haram [forbidden]." Çiftçi stated that illegal betting has evolved from a simple public order issue into a pressing national security concern, referring to it as a "scourge that corrupts society."
"You cannot manage a threat you cannot see. Türkiye has now reached a capacity to see, analyse and respond to this threat," he cautioned.
Turkey implements an online gambling monopoly through the National Lottery Administration and İddaa, which operates under the Spor Toto Organisation. The government enforces Law No. 7258, which criminalizes gambling activities without a license and links such offenses with money laundering and fraud, thereby escalating the legal repercussions for violators.
Çiftçi noted that the rise of digital payments and cryptocurrencies is transforming illegal betting into a critical channel for money laundering. He stated, "Casinos, junkets, cryptocurrencies and underground banking are the most critical parts of the money laundering infrastructure that fuels international organised crime." He projected that the global gambling market could reach $205 billion by 2030.
In response, the Turkish government is enhancing inter-agency cooperation to track suspicious accounts, payment flows, and online infrastructures that facilitate illegal operations. Çiftçi highlighted that illegal betting syndicates utilize legitimate financial tools, shell e-commerce sites, and intermediary payment providers to support their activities. "Criminal organisations are no longer robbing with knives or guns, but with algorithms and digital wallets, and we are responding in the same arena," he emphasized.
To combat the growing threat, the government has blocked over 548,420 illegal betting and gambling websites between 2006 and 2025, with 84,000 of these blocked in 2025 alone. Last year, authorities took down 12,548 servers and connection addresses involved in unlawful gambling. Utilizing advanced AI-powered systems and technical monitoring, the Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Investigation Bureau is identifying suspicious account patterns.
Additionally, legal actions have been initiated against influencers promoting illegal betting websites. The Interior Ministry's initiatives extend beyond illegal gambling to address organized crime, human trafficking, and cybercrime. Çiftçi noted, "We deployed law enforcement, intelligence and financial auditing agencies simultaneously in the fight against illegal gambling."
The enforcement of illegal gambling regulations in Turkey is framed within broader public safety concerns. Çiftçi remarked, "Illegal gambling and international security threats are intertwined. We, as a country, recognized this a long time ago."
