Ali Babacan, the DEVA Party leader, accuses President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of supporting online gambling by approving licenses, saying the government is not stopping it but helping it grow.
Speaking on Habertürk TV, Babacan, who served as deputy prime minister and now heads the Democracy and Progress Party, shared his view. He points out that millions in Turkey start online betting because of tough economic times and few job chances.
Babacan says Erdoğan’s party, the AKP, can stop online gambling right away but does not do it. Instead, according to him, the government allows it and provides licenses. He says the authority giving such licenses today is the office of the president.
Turkey has strict rules about gambling. Casinos became banned in 1998, and non-state online gambling went illegal in 2006. Still, games like Milli Piyango, the national lottery, and a few legal betting options stay allowed, including some online services. Many people keep playing illegal online games, especially for professional football, even with these laws.
Babacan calls out the government for not using its power to block online gambling.
Payment networks support all of those gambling websites. Their licenses come from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, Babacan says. He believes if the order came, these payment systems would close gambling sites without delay.
Within Demirören Holding, Şans Girişim holds the license for İddaa since 2019. İddaa stands as Turkey’s sole fixed-odds betting game.
Babacan talks as anxiety grows about digital gambling. Youth in Turkey face more gambling risk. State news agency Anadolu reports in 2024 that 80% of young people had seen online gambling, raising fears about gambling addiction.
Authorities in Turkey increased actions against illegal online betting. March saw Istanbul police arrest 49 people and take control of 23 companies, including a TV channel, a digital payment provider, and a bank, as part of a big investigation into illegal betting and money laundering.
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