Turkish law enforcement authorities have detained 11 individuals in Istanbul suspected of operating an extensive illegal betting and virtual gambling network. The operation, which targeted an organized criminal group, uncovered a financial turnover totaling approximately 123 million Turkish liras.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing TRT Haber, the suspects are accused of facilitating the movement of illicit funds through automated teller machines (ATMs). The group allegedly withdrew cash from these machines to manage the financial circulation of proceeds generated from illegal gambling and casino games. The coordinated police action was carried out simultaneously across three different regions to dismantle the network's infrastructure.
Turkey has significantly intensified its crackdown on illegal online gambling and unauthorized betting platforms in recent years. Under Turkish law, the state-run Spor Toto Organization holds the exclusive right to authorize sports betting, making all other virtual platforms illegal. These operations are part of a broader strategy by Turkish security forces to combat money laundering and the underground economy, which often funds other criminal activities.
