Turkey is preparing legislation to ban betting advertisements, expanding restrictions already in place for alcohol and tobacco ads, as authorities intensify a sweeping crackdown on illegal gambling networks and online betting platforms, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Tuesday.
The planned ban will be included in a broader bill expected to be submitted to parliament in the coming days, Anadolu said. The draft legislation aims to curb the spread of betting, particularly among minors, by outlawing all forms of betting-related advertising.
According to Anadolu, the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Family and Social Services have been conducting technical work on the proposal, which would introduce additional measures to block access to betting platforms, with a particular focus on preventing use by minors aged 15 to 18.
The move follows a series of high-profile investigations that have exposed the scale of illegal betting in Turkey, particularly in professional football, fintech and social media platforms.
Earlier this month an İstanbul court ordered the arrest of 20 people, including 11 footballers from Turkey’s first and second divisions, nine of whom were accused of betting on their own teams’ matches. The case was part of a broader investigation that has already led to the imprisonment of referees, club executives and the dismissal of nearly 150 officials by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).
Celebrities and online influencers have also been targeted on accusations of promoting illegal betting. In June police detained 10 social media influencers over livestreams allegedly encouraging gambling, while a separate probe last year placed several high-profile entertainers under house arrest.
Investigators have also focused on the financial networks behind illegal betting.
The probe ultimately led to the arrest of 11 people, including the company’s founder and CEO, Ahmed Faruk Karslı.
Investigations have shown that billions of lira were moved through digital wallets, cryptocurrency accounts and informal money transfer systems, leading regulators to suspend or revoke the licenses of at least 10 payment companies. The central bank currently lists 61 licensed electronic money institutions.
The Advertising Board under the Trade Ministry has also banned access to dozens of social media accounts for promoting illegal betting, warning that failure to remove such content could lead to permanent shutdowns.
Gambling remains tightly restricted in Turkey. Casinos were banned in 1998, and non-state online gambling was outlawed in 2006, though state-run lottery and betting services remain legal.
Turkish authorities say such activities fuel addiction and drain billions of lira from the economy.