Minister Gürlek announces: Illegal betting operation ahead of Fenerbahçe-Beşiktaş match

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced that a comprehensive operation was carried out ahead of the Fenerbahçe-Beşiktaş match to disrupt the flow of money to illegal betting sites.

Minister Gürlek stated that the operation was conducted under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Gürlek reported that 345 illegal betting sites, 110 different payment methods, and 1,200 IBANs were identified as part of the efforts.

Stating that approximately 98 thousand websites used in connection with illegal betting were also identified, Gürlek announced that judicial decisions had been obtained to block access to these sites.

Within the scope of the operation, 1,200 bank accounts belonging to 1,048 individuals and legal entities were also seized.

ACCESS BLOCK

The following was stated in the announcement:

"Major sporting events followed with intense interest across the country are periods when the flow of money in illegal betting activities is at its highest. In this context, a comprehensive operation was carried out by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office just before the Fenerbahçe–Beşiktaş match on September 5, 2026, which attracts the interest of millions of our citizens, in order to disrupt the high-volume financial flow directed toward illegal betting sites at the moment it intensifies.

Under the coordination of our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime Investigation Bureau, technical examination and research activities were carried out by the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command Cybercrime Combat Branch Directorate regarding illegal betting sites operating in Turkey, as well as the bank accounts and payment methods used by players to deposit money into these sites.

As a result of the work carried out, 345 different illegal betting sites, 110 different payment methods used on these sites, 1,200 IBANs used for financial intermediation, and approximately 98,000 websites evaluated to be used for betting activities and related redirects were identified. It was decided to block access to the approximately 98,000 identified websites by obtaining the necessary judicial decisions.

Within the scope of the ongoing work, bank accounts offered by illegal betting sites for players to deposit money were identified; it was determined that these accounts mediated the conducting of illegal betting and the laundering of proceeds obtained from illegal betting. In this context, a total of 1,200 accounts with IBAN numbers belonging to 1,048 separate individuals and legal entities were seized, and an investigation was launched against the aforementioned 1,048 persons for 'Opposition to Law No. 7258' and 'Laundering of Assets Derived from Crime.'

The seizure and other protective measures within the scope of the investigation are being carried out rapidly within the framework of the decisions of the Istanbul Duty Magistrate Judge, the necessary writs have been written to the banks, and the requirements of the seizure decisions have been fulfilled in coordination with all relevant institutions. Investigations into illegal betting and related money laundering activities will continue with determination.

Respectfully announced to the public."

News Source: 12punto