Erdogan Against Landbased and Online Gambling in Turkey

Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan intentions on gambling in his country have been widely known in recent years. Gambling in Turkey has always been strictly prohibited from the state. Casinos were banned in 1998 and eight years later, the non state online gambling was meant to come to an end starting 2006. According to the "Daily Sabah", the Turkish government is ready to take a step forward, as they are preparing a strong campaign in order to end illegal gambling, both land based and online.

How Will the Government Fight Gambling?

The start date of the campaign has not been specified yet, but Police, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice and Revenue Department have already begun to work together in this direction.

According to the new plan, several new regulations will be introduced in order to allow authorities to fight illegal gambling in a better way both in dens and online gambling sites. The competent authorities have suggested that it might take up to two years  for its completion.

The measures would also include revenues' seizures of such activities and large fines for places allowing online gambling.

Nowadays, residents in Turkey are supposed to only gamble on Milli PIyango and state-run SporToto.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also recently tried to convince Georgia's President to close the casinos in his country, given that many Turks cross the border to gamble.

The next step for the Turkish President is to set up a team of Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), Revenues Department and Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), members from the Financial Crimes Investigation Council (MASAK) and other agencies to help in this campaign.

Another goal and big part of this campaign will be to inform teenagers and children, educating them about the negative impacts gambling can have.