Turkey: new judicial package to increase penalties for online gambling

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as vowed to “eradicate” illegal gambling.

Turkey.- The government has said that the upcoming 11th Judicial Package will strengthen penalties and improve coordination against illegal betting after president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed to “eradicate” the activity before the 2027 general election.

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said: “Online betting and gambling are causing great grievances. We have prepared our draft laws regarding this,” Tunç told local media Haberler, adding that the proposals were developed after consultations with judicial authorities and public institutions.

Erdoğan has assigned Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz to lead a nationwide crackdown involving law enforcement, financial regulators, and Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK). The goal is to block access to offshore websites and trace financial transactions linked to illegal gambling and crypto casinos.

The move comes after fintech company Papara was accused of processing over TL12bn (US$285m) in transactions connected to illegal gambling, prompting calls for tighter supervision of payment systems and fintech firms.

Opposition figures have criticised the ruling AK Party for acting only after years of inaction. Muharrem İnce of the CHP said that the government “ignored the crisis for years”.

Turkey is taking new steps to tackle illegal online gambling, following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent directive to “eradicate” unlicensed betting networks before the 2027 general election.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as vowed to “eradicate” illegal gambling. Turkey.- The government has said that the upcoming 11th Judicial Package will strengthen penalties and improve coordination against illegal betting…