Illegal betting and gambling websites in Turkey are not just a technical or moral problem – they sit at the intersection of criminal law, administrative sanctions, financial crime and internet law. While many people still think “it’s just a website” or “only the organisers are at risk”, Turkish law takes a very different view.
Two core regimes are crucial:
- Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions (for sports-related betting), and
- Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 228 on providing a place and opportunity for gambling (for non-sports gambling in general).
On top of that, internet law (Law No. 5651), AML rules (MASAK) and blocking powers of BTK all play a role in the enforcement ecosystem.
This article explains, in clear terms, how Turkish law treats:
- the operators and facilitators behind illegal betting and gambling sites, and
- the ordinary users who place bets or play games on them.
1. Legal framework: which laws govern illegal betting and gambling websites?
1.1. Law No. 7258 – illegal sports betting
Law No. 7258, originally adopted for sports betting, has become the core statute for illegal online betting. Article 5 criminalises a series of acts when carried out without state authorisation, including:
- organising fixed-odds or mutual betting and games of chance based on sports competitions,
- providing a place or opportunity for such betting,
- enabling access from Turkey to betting played abroad via the internet,
- mediating money transfers related to illegal betting,
- and advertising or promoting illegal betting.
These acts carry serious prison sentences and judicial fines, which have been tightened by recent amendments.
1.2. TCK Article 228 – providing a place or means for gambling
Outside the world of licensed sports betting, “gambling” in general is regulated by Article 228 of the Turkish Penal Code.
- Anyone who provides a place or means for gambling can face 1–3 years’ imprisonment and a judicial fine.
- If the offence targets children, the penalty is increased.
- If it is committed via information systems (online gambling platforms), the prison term rises to 3–5 years with a large judicial fine.
- Legal entities can be subjected to security measures (confiscation, bans).
Gambling itself is defined as a game played for money, where gain or loss depends upon chance.
1.3. Internet and AML laws: 5651, BTK, MASAK
Illegal betting and gambling websites do not exist in a vacuum:
- Under Law No. 5651, access providers and hosting providers have obligations to block illegal content and retain traffic data for certain periods.
- BTK (Information and Communication Technologies Authority) regularly blocks access to tens of thousands of illegal gambling sites each year.
- MASAK treats illegal betting as a major source of suspicious transactions; recent data shows that around a quarter of all suspicious transaction reports concern illegal betting and gambling.
In other words: illegal betting is prosecuted not only as a “moral” issue, but as a financial crime and cybercrime priority.
2. Criminal liability of operators and facilitators
From a Turkish perspective, the heaviest sanctions target those who run, support or monetise illegal betting and gambling websites. “Operator” is not limited to the person who owns the domain.
2.1. Unlicensed betting organisers and site operators
Under Law No. 7258 Article 5, the following conduct typically falls into the “operator” category:
- running an unlicensed online betting platform,
- organising or offering sports-based betting without a state licence,
- acting as the local “branch” or mirror site of a foreign operator,
- operating call-centres, customer-support or risk-management teams for illegal betting.
Penalties usually fall in the band of:
- 3 to 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 10,000 days of judicial fine for unlicensed betting or providing place/opportunity,
- 4 to 6 years’ imprisonment for those who enable access from Turkey to betting organised abroad,
- 3 to 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 5,000 days of judicial fine for mediating money transfers related to illegal betting.
Given these thresholds, sentences are not easily converted into simple fines; real prison risk exists, especially where activity is organised and large-scale.
2.2. Payment intermediaries and “bank account holders”
A key enforcement focus in recent years has been on payment channels:
- People who “rent out” their bank accounts or payment instruments,
- Companies that route deposits and withdrawals for illegal sites,
- Informal “cashiers” who collect and distribute betting money on the ground.
Those who facilitate money transfers related to illegal betting can face the same 3–5 year prison terms and heavy judicial fines under Law No. 7258.
In practice, bank accounts used repeatedly for illegal betting transactions are:
- flagged by MASAK,
- blocked or frozen during investigations,
- and their holders may be treated as suspects, not innocent intermediaries.
2.3. Advertisers, affiliates and influencers
Turkish law also targets the marketing ecosystem around illegal betting.
Under Law No. 7258, acts such as:
- advertising illegal betting sites,
- preparing or publishing their ads,
- participating as an actor or influencer in promotional material,
are criminal offences, punishable by 1–3 years’ imprisonment and judicial fines up to several thousand day-units.
This can catch:
- website owners who place banners or links,
- social media influencers who promote “easy money” schemes,
- affiliate marketers running traffic to unlicensed platforms.
2.4. General gambling platforms under TCK 228
Outside the sports-betting context, people or companies that provide online casinos or other gambling games are exposed to TCK Article 228:
- 1–3 years’ imprisonment and judicial fine for providing a place or means for gambling,
- 3–5 years’ imprisonment and larger fines if the crime is committed using information systems,
- higher penalties where children are involved or the act is linked to an organisation.
Legal entities can face security measures, including confiscation of assets and, in some cases, bans on activity.
3. What about users? Do players commit a crime?
Many individuals worry: “If I place bets on an illegal website, will I go to prison?”
Under current law, the answer is different for sports betting and general gambling.
3.1. Users of illegal sports betting websites (Law No. 7258)
For sports-related betting, Law No. 7258 distinguishes operators from players:
- Operating, organising, mediating, advertising, transferring money → crime, punished with imprisonment and judicial fines.
- Playing / placing bets on illegal betting websites → treated as an administrative offence (kabahat), not a criminal offence.
This means:
- Users do not face imprisonment or a criminal record just for playing.
- Instead, they are subject to high administrative fines imposed by the local governorate or competent authority.
Because these fines are adjusted yearly with revaluation rates, the amounts now reach very significant figures (tens or even hundreds of thousands of lira per case as of 2025).
Repeated use of illegal betting sites may also draw the attention of MASAK and law-enforcement units, especially where:
- large sums move through personal accounts,
- patterns resemble money laundering or acting as a “runner” for the operator.
3.2. Players in general gambling (TCK 228)
For non-sports gambling:
- Providing a place or means for gambling is a crime under TCK 228, as seen above.
- Playing is not a crime under TCK itself; rather, it is treated as a misdemeanour/administrative offence under separate regulations.
Players can therefore be subject to administrative fines, police records of the incident, and in some contexts face disciplinary consequences (especially for public officials or licensed professionals).
In short: users are not “safe”, but their exposure is usually in the form of financial penalties and administrative consequences, not prison, unless they cross the line into assisting, mediating or organising.
4. Corporate and cross-border angles
4.1. Corporate liability
Where illegal betting or gambling is conducted through a company, Turkish law allows:
- security measures against legal entities involved in certain crimes, including gambling-related offences,
- sanctions such as confiscation of assets, cancellation of licences or specific bans.
Companies that “look the other way” while employees run illegal betting schemes, or that formally operate as “payment agents” or shell entities for foreign casinos, can therefore face serious compliance and risk exposure.
4.2. Cross-border jurisdiction
Illegal betting websites often host servers abroad, but this does not guarantee safety:
- Law No. 7258 specifically targets those who enable access from Turkey to betting based on sports competitions played abroad.
- Turkish courts can exercise jurisdiction over crimes committed abroad to Turkey’s detriment, where minimum penalty thresholds are met and other conditions are satisfied.
In practice, authorities combine:
- BTK’s blocking powers,
- MASAK’s financial intelligence,
- and criminal procedure tools (search, seizure, arrest) to reach people physically or financially linked to Turkey, even if the site itself appears “offshore”.
5. Practical risk map: users vs operators
To summarise the position under Turkish law:
For operators, facilitators and promoters
- High risk of imprisonment (3–6 years is common in the statutes).
- Massive judicial fines calculated in day-units.
- Confiscation of proceeds, blocked bank accounts, seizure of equipment.
- Possible corporate sanctions for companies.
- Investigations often involve digital forensics, traffic logs, MASAK reports and international cooperation.
For users / players
- Illegal betting in sports competitions: administrative fines under Law No. 7258, no prison solely for “playing”.
- General gambling: playing is a misdemeanour, but providing place or means is a crime under TCK 228.
- Large or repeated transactions can still lead to:
- investigations for assisting illegal betting,
- scrutiny for money laundering,
- serious consequences in professional life (especially for public servants).
6. Compliance tips for businesses and individuals in Turkey
For businesses in Turkey – especially fintechs, payment providers, internet platforms and influencers – a basic compliance strategy should include:
- Strictly avoid providing services to unlicensed betting or gambling sites (hosting, payment, advertising, affiliate links).
- Monitor and block suspicious merchants or traffic that match known illegal gambling patterns.
- Train staff about the criminal nature of facilitating illegal betting and the importance of MASAK reporting.
- Review advertising and sponsorship offers carefully, especially from “offshore” betting brands.
- For individuals: never lend your bank account or payment card to “friends” to “help with withdrawals” – this frequently leads to investigations as a money transfer intermediary.
Handled correctly, legal betting and gaming products can be offered under strict licensing regimes; but illegal betting and gambling websites in Turkey remain a high-risk area where both users and operators should understand the real legal consequences.
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