The danger of illegal betting... It has grown 100-fold in 25 years!

Income inequality and economic problems in Turkey have driven millions of people toward betting games. The lack of transparent oversight mechanisms and effective data-driven risk management makes the betting sector a hub for manipulation and unethical profit-seeking.

There are approximately 19-20 million people in the country who engage in legal and illegal betting. Over the last 25 years, the illegal betting sector has grown by one hundred percent, reaching 50 billion dollars.

12 MILLION PEOPLE ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL BETTING

While the number of people participating in legal betting in Turkey has reached 7 million, the number of those engaging in illegal betting has risen to 12 million. It is estimated that a total of 19-20 million people are involved in betting.

This ratio corresponds to approximately 23 percent of the population. The fact that some actors in the sports community are under financial pressure triggers them to resort to unethical ways of earning. Wage imbalances and income inequality make such alternative paths more attractive.

GREW ONE HUNDRED-FOLD IN 25 YEARS

In the last quarter-century, the illegal betting sector has recorded significant growth due to the impact of economic and legal oversight deficiencies. The inadequacy of legal sanctions and the lack of inspections have paved the way for the spread of the illegal betting sector.

This sector, which individuals facing economic hardship turn to, has grown one hundred-fold in 25 years, reaching the 50 billion dollar level. This increase further reveals the scale of the illegal betting world.

ILLEGAL BETTING SECTOR IN TURKEY IS 50 BILLION DOLLARS

According to data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the global illegal betting market has an annual transaction volume between 350 billion and 1.7 trillion dollars. In Turkey, it is stated that the size of the illegal betting sector has risen to 25 billion dollars, or according to another estimate, up to 50 billion dollars. The size of the illegal betting sector has increased from 500 million dollars to 50 billion dollars in the last 25 years.

INADEQUATE INSPECTIONS ARE GROWING THE SECTOR

The lack of transparency and the failure to establish an ethics-based oversight culture cause the illegal betting sector to be influential in other areas such as football. The fact that non-football elements are enveloping and growing the sector increases interest in betting games. The lack of oversight by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and clubs contributes to the growth of the betting sector.

Although situations such as abnormal fluctuations in betting odds or suspicious decisions by referees can be detected with advanced systems, such data-driven monitoring systems do not exist in Turkey. This deficiency makes it difficult to wage an effective fight against the illegal betting sector.

EXPECTATION OF WINNING LEADS TO RISKY ACTIVITIES

The illegal betting sector, which is rising with the desire to earn easy money, is also drawing in the sports community. Especially as athletes and managers face monetary pressure and financial difficulties, they face the risk of resorting to unethical ways of earning. The weak traceability and monetary flows of the illegal betting sector make it easier to turn to risky activities with the expectation of profit. In this environment, the lack of transparency and the absence of data-driven monitoring systems increase manipulations in the sector.

The lack of oversight systems and the absence of transparency in management processes have caused the illegal betting world to envelop football. Managerial weaknesses within the TFF and clubs pave the way for the growth of the illegal betting sector. Unusual movements in betting odds and suspicious attitudes in referee decisions make football intertwined with the illegal betting sector. The absence of data-driven monitoring systems and inspections makes it impossible to prevent such manipulations.