In Turkey, the opposition leader accused Erdoğan of enabling iGaming

The leader of the opposition “Democracy and Progress Party” Ali Babacan accused President Erdoğan of not cracking down on, but rather facilitating the growth of offshore operators in the country.

Online gambling in Turkey: the government “turns a blind eye”

According to Babacan, millions of Turks are involved in gambling due to economic hardship and lack of opportunities. He claims that the authorities could immediately shut down illegal online casinos but deliberately choose not to.

“They could stop it at any moment, but they don’t. On the contrary, they issue licenses. Today, licenses are personally issued by the president of the country,” Babacan said on Habertürk TV.

Legal regulation and loopholes

Gambling in Turkey is strictly limited: casinos were banned in 1998, and unauthorized online betting has been outlawed since 2006. Nevertheless, the state lottery Milli Piyango and some licensed betting platforms such as İddaa continue to operate in the country.

Despite the bans, illegal online betting, especially on football matches, continues to grow in popularity. Babacan points out that all illegal platforms depend on payment systems licensed by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK):

“Tell them to shut it down — and they will. It’s very simple,” he emphasized.

Political ties and licenses

The DEVA leader also hinted at a connection between the government and media mogul Yıldırım Demirören, whose company Şans Girişim has operated İddaa since 2019. Demirören is the head of Demirören Holding, which owns the country’s largest media group and is considered close to the authorities.

According to Babacan, only one company received a betting license, and this may be due to political connections.

Youth engagement is growing

Particular concern is caused by the growing interest in online gambling among young people. According to a 2024 report by Anadolu Agency, 80% of young people in Turkey have encountered online betting platforms. This raises concerns about the spread of gambling addiction among teenagers and students.

Government response: operations against illegal networks

In March 2025, the authorities launched an active campaign against illegal gambling. During a large-scale police operation in Istanbul, 49 suspects were detained and 23 companies were seized, including a TV channel, a payment system, and a bank.

Conclusion

Ali Babacan’s statements raise serious questions about the role of the authorities in the spread of gambling in the country.

Under economic pressure, online gambling has become a way for many Turks to escape reality, and the lack of effective state control raises concerns about the future regulation of the industry.