Turkey’s National Lottery Office Supports Erdoğan’s Campaign Against Illegal Gambling
National Lottery Office Endorses Anti-Illegal Gambling Campaign
Turkey’s national lottery administration, the Milli Piyango İdaresi (MPİ), has publicly backed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal gambling. This support comes amid the fallout from recent betting controversies in the country.
Official Support and Legal Actions from MPİ
This week, Ekrem Candan, MPİ’s Chairman and General Manager, presented a detailed report featuring 420,000 criminal charges against operators of unlawful gambling websites. He affirmed MPİ’s active participation in the crackdown, highlighting that the organization has supplied substantial evidence over the years to the Financial Crimes Investigation Board of Turkey, known as MASAK, which is leading the government’s efforts against illegal betting.
Candan also met with top officials at MASAK, providing data that pinpointed 239,000 web domains violating national gambling laws. He warned that illegal gambling poses a borderless threat that endangers Turkey’s youth, economy, and societal values. Stressing the wide-reaching impact, Candan characterized the issue as a matter of national security rather than just a gambling problem.
The MPİ’s announcement coincides with heightened national attention following revelations that hundreds of Turkish soccer officials were involved in unauthorized betting activities.
MASAK Strengthens Measures to Combat Illegal Gambling
This development aligns with President Erdoğan’s 2025–2026 action plan aimed at eliminating illegal betting, games of chance, and virtual gambling. Instituted in early November, the plan places MASAK at the center of coordination across multiple government ministries under Erdoğan’s direct supervision.
Since the beginning of 2024, MASAK has been tracking illicit financial transactions exceeding 5.8 billion Turkish Lira (approximately $13.2 million), while enhancing anti-money laundering protocols and payment surveillance systems. Turkish authorities have reportedly shut down over 10,500 international gaming servers and more than 1,470 advertising sites since May.
According to MASAK, the rise of social media, digital payment methods, and cryptocurrency has facilitated easier cross-border access to illegal gambling, necessitating ongoing advancements in detection, monitoring, and intervention technologies. The agency confirmed that offshore hosting operations based in Malta, North Macedonia, and Georgia have been identified, prompting warnings of stringent actions against foreign entities enabling illegal gambling aimed at Turkish players.
MASAK emphasized the importance of strengthening legal and administrative measures to address the increasingly sophisticated technological and financial tactics employed by illegal gambling networks, ensuring a robust and comprehensive fight against unlawful gambling activities.
