Amount blocked in illegal betting announced

Speaking at the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek announced that the amount of transactions blocked related to illegal betting last year was 664 million liras.

The TBMM Planning and Budget Committee convened for the 2025 budget negotiations of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.

Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek gave a presentation at the committee.

Stating that 2.66 trillion liras of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance budget, which was 2.68 trillion liras as of the end of 2023, was utilized, Minister Şimşek said, "31.3 billion liras, corresponding to approximately 1.2 percent of this, was used for Ministry services."

Minister Şimşek also provided information about the transaction amounts blocked regarding illegal betting. Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek stated, "The transaction amount we blocked related to illegal betting in 2023 is 644 million liras; in line with the reports prepared by MASAK, courts have issued seizure decisions for an amount of approximately 30 million liras."

Key highlights from Minister Şimşek's speech are as follows:

"We are continuing our fight against the financing of terrorism and money laundering in a determined manner that is fully compliant with international standards. With the legal regulation made for crypto assets in 2024, the establishment and activities of crypto asset service providers have been made subject to authorization.

With the regulations, transactions have been made more secure, and the implementation of necessary measures and sanctions has been ensured. In the coming period, we will continue our fight against illegal betting and gambling to prevent money laundering.

The most important macroeconomic imbalance in Turkey is high inflation. Administered prices will be determined in line with the inflation target. To the extent that budget resources allow, we will determine administered and directed prices in line with the inflation target.

Rebalancing in growth continues in line with our projections. We foresee a relative recovery in economic activity starting from the second half of next year.

Access to external financing is improving.

We aim to keep the ratio of the current account deficit to national income below 2 percent to ensure additional reserve accumulation and strengthen external debt sustainability.

Demand for the Turkish Lira is increasing, and reserves and macro-financial stability are strengthening.

While the decline in inflation is more pronounced in core goods that are highly sensitive to monetary policy, inertia remains high in services, as is the case globally.

We have presented our work regarding the public procurement reform draft and the SOE governance reform in the field of public finance to our party group.

The perception that the tax burden is high in our country does not reflect the truth. We are determined in the fight against the informal economy. Our goal in revenue policies is to further strengthen tax justice and increase the share of direct taxes.

We will do whatever is necessary to ensure price stability.

We aim to reduce the domestic debt rollover ratio to 132 percent this year and to 119 percent next year.

We will do whatever is necessary to ensure price stability.

We will accelerate structural reforms in all areas that will increase competitiveness and growth potential.

We continue to implement the program we put into effect with the strong support of our President with determination.

The effects of monetary policy will be seen more clearly. A decrease in the budget deficit will occur, which will be achieved through effective revenue collection and expenditure discipline.

What is necessary for price stability will be done; we can increase purchasing power through price stability."

News Source: 12punto