Turkey Ramps Up Crackdown on Illegal Gambling, Blocking Over 84,000 Websites and Re-Arresting Fintech Founder

Turkey is intensifying its campaign against unlicensed gambling, with a new report from the General Directorate of the National Lottery Administration (MPi) revealing the scale of enforcement. Authorities have blocked 84,585 websites across 70 countries, part of a broader government crackdown on the illegal sector.

Geographic Distribution of Offending Sites

The vast majority of blocked sites targeting the Turkish market were hosted in the United States, accounting for 51,263 domains. Other notable jurisdictions include the Isle of Man (5,745 sites), Armenia (5,698), as well as Colombia, Curaçao, and Malta, which were also flagged as prevalent hosts.

Organised Crime Links

The MPi report warned that illegal gambling sites are entirely run by criminal gang networks, a sentiment echoed by Entain CEO Stella David, who recently stated that “unlicensed gambling operators are often little more than fronts for organised crime, which target vulnerable players and avoid tax.”

Papara Founder Re-Arrested

Turkey’s enforcement has extended beyond website blocking. Ahmet Faruk Karslı, founder and former CEO of fintech neobank Papara, was re-arrested days after a court ordered his release. Papara, founded in 2016, grew into Turkey’s largest digital wallet but now faces allegations of serving as a conduit for illicit gambling payments. A Central Bank audit cited in the indictment found that 26,012 Papara accounts were linked to illegal betting from 2021 to 2023, with prosecutors alleging approximately TRY12 billion (€250 million) in transactions flowed through the platform before being moved to 274 bank accounts and five cryptocurrency wallets.

Social Media and Media Crackdown

Turkish authorities also blocked 2,105 social media accounts alongside the website takedowns. Separately, the Ministry of Trade announced it had blocked 15 high-follower social media accounts for promoting illegal gambling platforms, though the identities of the individuals and platforms have not been disclosed. The ministry warned that those behind the accounts will face charges, and media firms now face heightened scrutiny to prevent promotion of unlicensed gambling services.