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Turkish authorities moved against thousands of bank accounts during the FIFA World Cup final, freezing 6,314 accounts suspected of being linked to illegal betting activity.
The operation was carried out in Istanbul as the match began, with authorities targeting financial channels they believed were being used by illegal betting networks. The investigation also included offshore financial entities and individuals suspected of connections to unlawful wagering operations.
Banks Targeted During World Cup Final
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office coordinated the action through its Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Investigation Bureau, working alongside cybercrime units from the Istanbul Provincial Police Department.
Investigators had identified the accounts before the final and prepared simultaneous freeze requests for banks. Authorities chose the match period because the World Cup final was considered the event most likely to attract large-scale illegal betting activity.
The timing reflects a wider enforcement focus in Turkey, where regulators and law enforcement agencies have increased efforts against unlicensed online betting platforms and related financial flows.
Offshore Links and Suspected Networks
Alongside the frozen accounts, authorities identified 19 offshore financial entities allegedly connected to illegal betting websites.
Judicial proceedings have started against 23 suspects as part of the investigation. Officials said the case forms part of broader efforts to disrupt illegal betting operations and prevent suspected criminal proceeds from moving through the financial system.
The scale of the action shows how authorities are increasingly targeting the money infrastructure behind illegal betting rather than focusing only on individual operators or websites.
Source: igamingexpress.com
