ANKARA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces carried out 1,120 operations targeting illegal online betting and gambling offenses, seizing assets worth 15.8 billion lira (about 379 million U.S. dollars) between Jan. 1, 2024, and Oct. 6, 2025, according to the Turkish Interior Ministry on Thursday.
In 2024 alone, 499 operations resulted in the detention of 3,397 suspects, of whom 1,088 were subsequently arrested. As of Oct. 6, 2025, 621 operations this year have resulted in 3,394 arrests, with 1,313 suspects jailed, it said.
Revenues from the country's legal betting market reached 590.9 billion lira in 2024, according to an audit report by the Turkish Court of Accounts.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya described illegal betting as "a trap and a chain of exploitation," saying: "These dark networks drag our youth into debt, crime, and even suicide under the illusion of easy money, destroying families and deepening financial and psychological collapse," he said.
"As the ministry, we address all crime economies, including money laundering, digital fraud, and illegal betting, in a holistic manner, and we will continue our comprehensive fight against illegal betting and gambling networks," Yerlikaya added. Enditem
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