Turkey Blocks 98,000 Sites in Illegal Betting Crackdown Ahead of Derby

Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced a major operation against illegal betting ahead of the Fenerbahçe-Beşiktaş derby, with access blocked to approximately 98,000 websites. The operation, coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, targeted the flow of money to illegal betting sites. In a statement, Gürlek said the operation was carried out under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as part of the fight against illegal betting and money laundering.

The Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command's Cyber Crime Branch identified 345 illegal betting sites, 110 different payment methods, 1,200 IBANs, and approximately 98,000 internet sites linked to illegal betting. A judicial decision was taken to block access to approximately 98,000 internet sites. Authorities also seized 1,200 bank accounts belonging to 1,048 real and legal entities found to be used in illegal betting activities and money laundering. Investigations were launched against those involved for violating Law No. 7258 and for laundering assets derived from crime.