Breaking News: Massive illegal betting operation in Istanbul

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that 15 out of 24 individuals identified as being involved in a money transfer of 3 billion 665 million liras as part of an illegal betting investigation have been detained.

SUSPICIOUS MONEY TRANSFERS WORTH BILLIONS OF LIRAS

According to the statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, within the scope of the investigation conducted into the crime of "opposition to the Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions," it was determined that in 2023, money was sent for the purpose of illegal betting via the address "www.paribahis849.com".

In this context, approximately 1 billion 200 million 291 thousand liras were transferred to accounts belonging to individuals placing bets through 807 transactions.

MASAK AND GENDARMERIE WORKED IN COORDINATION

The statement indicated that as a result of research conducted through MASAK reports, HTS and criminal records, as well as investigations into Paribu Teknoloji AŞ, BN Teknoloji AŞ, D Elektronik Şans Oyunları ve Yayıncılık AŞ, and Papara Elektronik Para AŞ, two separate criminal groups were identified.

Accordingly, the transaction volume of a 14-person group was recorded as 2 billion 485 million 470 thousand 625 liras, while the volume of a 9-person group was recorded as 785 million 644 thousand 932 liras. Additionally, it was determined that a suspect acting alone carried out a money transfer of 394 million 104 thousand 980 liras.

It was announced that the total transaction volume of all suspects was 3 billion 665 million 220 thousand 538 liras.

15 SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY

Within the framework of the investigation, search, seizure, and detention orders were issued for 24 people in operations organized by the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command. 15 of these individuals were apprehended and taken into custody.

NOTABLE WARNING FROM THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

The statement included the following: "Considering the magnitude of the money transfers identified solely as a result of this operation within the scope of illegal betting games, the tax loss caused, and the fact that the suspects involved are our youth in their twenties, the fight against this economic and sociological problem faced by our state will continue uninterrupted."

STATEMENT FROM THE ISTANBUL CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

"Within the scope of the research conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the allegation of Opposition to the Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions (illegal betting), it was determined that in 2023, on various dates, money amounting to approximately 1,200,291,000 TL (one billion two hundred million two hundred ninety-one thousand liras) was sent to accounts belonging to individuals who carried out money transfers for the purpose of illegal betting from the website with the URL extension www.paribahis849.com through 807 different transactions. Following the instructions of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Cyber Crimes Investigation Bureau, as a result of research conducted by the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command Cyber Crimes Combat Branch Directorate into MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board), PARİBU Teknoloji A.Ş., BN Teknoloji A.Ş., D Elektronik Şans Oyunları ve Yayıncılık A.Ş., PAPARA Elektronik Para A.Ş., HTS records within the scope of CMK-135, criminal records, and social financial statuses; it was understood from the financial analysis conducted on the subject that (14) and (9) people were involved as two separate groups, with the total transaction volume of the (14)-person group being 2,485,470,625.23 TL (2 billion 485 million 470 thousand 625 TL 24 kuruş), the total transaction volume of the (9)-person group being 785,644,932.29 TL (785 million 644 thousand 932 TL 29 kuruş), and additionally, the total transaction volume of (1) person being 394,104,980.90 TL (394 million 104 thousand 980 TL 90 kuruş), amounting to a total transaction volume of 3,665,220,538.40 TL (3 billion 665 million 220 thousand 538 TL 40 kuruş).

As a result of this meticulous investigation, on 21/10/2025, search, seizure, and detention procedures were carried out against the suspects identified within the scope of the operational activities conducted under the coordination of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command upon the instructions of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Considering the magnitude of the money transfers identified solely as a result of this operation within the scope of illegal betting games, the tax loss caused, and the fact that the suspects involved are our youth in their twenties, the fight against this economic and sociological problem faced by our State will continue uninterrupted."

News Source: 12punto