Turkish Finance Minister to clamp down on illegal betting sites

Naci Agbal, the Turkish Minister of Finance has offered certain revealing updates on the future of gambling Turkey. His view is that the social implications of unregulated iGaming are much more severe than financial ones.

Ağbal has reported that the turnover from illegal online wagering amounts to around 40 billion liras (€9.7 billion) a year.

He also went ahead to add that numerous criminal networks are looking to expand their activities to illegal gambling, mentioning that citizens, especially young people who use the Internet regularly would be dangerously exposed. However, he reassured that the state is committed in its fight against cybercrime and "will bring these illegal betting sites to heel".

The Ministry of Finance underlined that they have appointed the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) in this regard.

Naci Agbal stated about that: “Currently, MASAK is working intensively to coordinate these activities in Turkey. We work together with our ministries of Internal Affairs, Justice, Youth and Sports. After this time, we have made an amendment to the statutory decree (KHK) gamblers run this system as follows: The criminal organizations that organize this work find some young or unemployed people, open bank accounts on their behalf, and citizens pay money to these accounts they see on the internet. Our prosecution offices are now applying to the courts. We have begun to cease this activity and will further increase our efforts in the coming period. We have also commissioned our board and they will start to conduct special audits”.

Ağbal pointed out that the money flow was most likely carried out through banks. He said that MASAK could easily seize that money under new developments in DMC.

ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FUTURE

Citing that they will bring additional regulations against illegal gambling, Agbal said:

"The citizens who place bets on illegal betting sites should pay heed to our warning as we will confiscate their deposits and winnings. We call out to our young people. As long as we are responsible for the correct regulation of gambling, they will never be tools in any criminal hands. Anyone associated with illegal gambling should know that in the coming days, we will get images of banks, ATMs, cameras and deliver them to the prosecutor's office. "

Agbal, added that the authorities will continue fighting until illegal gambling has been clamped down: "There are international criminal networks behind these sites. We will not let our citizens add money to the crime organizations and offer them resources & information that threaten Turkey's national security. "