Why is illegal betting and gambling becoming widespread among youth in Turkey?

BBC Turkish's Fundanur Öztürk met with 26-year-old Ahmet in Istanbul's Fatih district, at a location he chose and trusted.

Ahmet, who requested that his real name remain hidden in the report, explains that he has been playing and facilitating online gambling since his middle school years.

He says that while he was still in high school, he obtained a dealership and received a 5% commission for every player he brought to the site to place illegal bets; he notes that commissions for dealerships with more members go up to 30%.

Sites where illegal betting and gambling are conducted in Turkey with an additional extension are generally managed from abroad.

Ahmet explains, "You get a domain through these sites and start creating your own players, then you receive a certain commission based on the number of players you bring into the system and the volume of play":

"Someone from Cyprus contacts you, they give you an extension, and the owners of these extensions are known. That person is responsible for popularizing that page in Turkey. Each person inevitably brings a few others along with them."

"You don't even need an office; you can manage this business anywhere, in any shop-like setting or even a cafe; you just need to find more people."

"STARTING MONEY IS GIVEN TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE"

Many systems are being put into operation that aim to attract young people to illegal betting and gambling.

For example, the odds for illegal betting are much higher than for official betting. Ahmet says that on some sites, new bets can be opened even while a match is in progress:

"To encourage young people to play, a certain commission is given at the start. The young person multiplies that money at first, but then loses everything. You multiply your money at first, then you lose; the algorithm of some sites is entirely based on this."

"Among young people, there are those who earn 150 thousand a month and drive Teslas. However, even if you are a site owner like me, this is not a sustainable income. The system allows you to win up to a certain point, but then it takes back everything it gave."

"There are many who say, 'Give us a dealership too, open a site for us too.' Because of this, many people's homes have been ruined. There are those who take out loans and sell their houses and cars. A friend of mine applied for a loan through mobile banking in his father's name and put it into gambling."

"After your money runs out, you start getting into debt with the person facilitating the gambling. You still can't win, and your debt grows. After that point, collection activities come into play."

Interior Minister Yerlikaya announced on September 29 that in an operation targeting an organization managed by A.A., 22 shell companies and 39 bank accounts belonging to suspects were seized.

The concealment of dirty money by splitting it into different accounts, the collection of money from indebted players, and many similar illegal practices also bring gang formation along with them.

Ahmet, who has been involved in every stage of the business, explains, "Just as there used to be check-bond and drug mafias, now there are illegal betting and gambling mafias":

"One day, I went to a very luxurious villa in Sarıyer for collection. He plays, he loses, he plays more by getting into debt with us, and eventually, collection work comes into play. My relative said, 'Go and get that money from him somehow, you will take your own share from it.'

"I went to the man and said if you don't give the money, we will talk in a different way. The man, of course, finds it from his friends and family out of that fear and gives it. I take my own share and deliver it, and we close our business this way."

HOW IS DIRTY MONEY LAUNDERED?

"Rented" bank accounts are generally at the forefront of the money laundering methods used by illegal betting and gambling gangs.

Young people targeted by the gangs open bank, electronic money, and cryptocurrency accounts. These accounts are rented from the young people in exchange for a small fee and are used to collect and distribute dirty money.

Betting and gambling money is transferred rapidly between bank accounts, electronic bank accounts, and cryptocurrency accounts to avoid technical surveillance.

According to a statement made by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) via the Anadolu Agency, a betting organization can use hundreds of accounts at the same time.

MASAK warns young people not to rent out their bank accounts.

Ahmet explains his own system by saying, "To avoid attracting attention, you divide the money into 20 parts and send it to the people you have an agreement with, then you withdraw it one by one":

"First to a virtual account, from there to a legal bank... You use other people's legal bank accounts to be able to withdraw the money from different accounts."

"For example, I say I will send 10 thousand liras to your account, withdraw it and bring it to me, a thousand liras is yours. They accept even if you give them 500 TL; think of it as a young person."