for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Turkey is preparing to outlaw most forms of betting advertising as part of a sweeping campaign against illegal gambling networks, online platforms, and insider betting scandals that have rocked its football leagues and payments sector.
According to state-run Anadolu Agency, the government is finalising a bill that would extend Turkey’s existing ad restrictions on alcohol and tobacco to cover betting and gambling promotions across television, radio, outdoor media, and digital channels. The proposal is expected to be submitted to parliament in the coming days and, if passed, would ban betting ads outright rather than simply tightening content rules.
The bill comes as part of the deepening crackdown on illegal gambling
Officials say the primary goal is to curb exposure to betting among teenagers and young adults. The Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry, and Ministry of Family and Social Services have been working jointly on the text, which also includes new powers to block access to betting platforms and to limit the use of digital wallets and other payment tools by under-18s.
Turkey banned private casinos in 1998 and non-state online gambling in 2006, leaving state-run products such as the national lottery and IDDAA sports betting as the only legal options. Yet unlicensed operators have flourished online, often using influencers, football sponsorships, and aggressive social media campaigns to attract customers.
In January, the Treasury and Finance Ministry said the National Lottery Administration had blocked access to 233,000 illegal betting and gambling websites in 2024 alone, up from 168,000 the previous year. Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek said at the time that the government was “determined to prevent unregistered economic activities and financial crimes that cause tax loss and victimisation of our citizens” and would keep taking “all kinds of measures to prevent illegal betting, virtual gambling and unauthorised draws.”
Widening probe uncovers betting by hundreds of professional football players and staff
However, blocking measures have done little to stem demand. Many sites quickly reappear under new domains or route traffic through foreign hosting services. That has pushed regulators to go after the advertising and payments infrastructure that allows illegal operators to reach Turkish users at scale.
One front is professional football. A high-profile insider-betting investigation has already led to mass suspensions and arrests. In November, Istanbul chief prosecutor Akın Gürlek said prosecutors were widening a probe into betting by match officials and club insiders, warning: “Whoever was involved in cheating, we are chasing them… There will be club chairmen and club executives in the probes.”
Earlier this autumn, the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees and assistants after finding that hundreds of match officials held betting accounts. Later operations led to the arrest of eight people, including the chairman of a top-tier club, and the banning of more than 1,000 players as second- and third-tier league fixtures were temporarily halted.
Promotion of unlicensed gambling is now rampant, Authorities claim
Another focus is the influencer economy. Authorities have brought a string of cases against actors, singers, and social media personalities accused of promoting unlicensed gambling to millions of followers.
In 2024 and 2025, police detained several high-profile entertainers and content creators, with some placed under house arrest and others facing travel bans, after investigators alleged they embedded betting ads in live streams and sponsored events. Prosecutors have argued that such campaigns cause “significant financial losses to the country’s economy” and “considerable damage to the social order.”
Lawmakers will have to decide whether to move forward with the planned ad ban
Draft language reported by Anadolu would prohibit any direct or indirect promotion of betting services, including sponsorships, branded content, and affiliate links. It would also empower the Advertising Board under the Trade Ministry to impose swift penalties on media outlets and platforms that run betting promotions, with repeat offenders facing potential shutdowns.
Government sources acknowledge the proposal as a public-health measure rather than a moral crusade. Officials have voiced concern about the rise of youth gambling, particularly via mobile apps and social platforms where age-verification tools are weak and payments can be routed through prepaid cards or crypto. Campaigners have warned that children as young as nine have been able to access online betting via links pushed by influencers and underground tipster channels.
With no full draft yet published, details on sanctions and enforcement timelines remain unclear.
In the coming weeks, lawmakers will decide how far to go. The outcome will shape not only the future visibility of betting brands in Turkey, but also the balance between prohibition, regulation, and consumer protection in one of Europe’s most tightly controlled gambling markets.
Source: Turkish Minute
