Turkish authorities have jailed 70 suspects detained in an illegal betting operation across eight provinces, the latest in a series of investigations targeting online gambling networks and their financial operations.
The operation, based in the southeastern province of Gaziantep, was carried out on Friday at 92 locations under the coordination of the Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the gendarmerie’s cybercrime and anti-smuggling units and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), Turkey’s main financial crimes agency.
The Interior Ministry later announced that 81 suspects had been detained in the Gaziantep-based operation. The suspects were taken into custody on accusations of illegal betting and establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes.
After questioning by the gendarmerie, the suspects were referred to court. Seventy of them were jailed pending trial, while 11 were released under judicial supervision.
Turkey allows betting only through state-authorized systems, while unauthorized online betting platforms, the promotion of such platforms and the transfer of money for them are treated as criminal offenses.
Recent illegal betting investigations have focused on payment networks, bank accounts and electronic money systems allegedly used to move betting proceeds.