President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan orders all state authorities to eliminate illegal gambling before the next election. Developments in Turkey are rapidly accelerating.
Erdoğan has ordered a full assault on illegal gambling websites in the middle of glaring international headlines of betting corruption across all levels of Turkish football. On the other hand, reported as an epidemic growing in the shadows of Turkish youth, domestic media exposés have highlighted the failure of AKP government to address gambling problem.
If Erdoğan fails to control gambling, the growing opposition will weaponize it, turning Turkey’s gambling fallout into a crisis at the lowest point of his 14-year presidency. Stasya Yautodzyeva, 4H Agency Head of Analytics details the problematic history of Turkey with gambling, observing developments, as former decisions come back to haunt Erdoğan.
Turkey’s unfolding narratives demand close attention from all industry stakeholders. The stakes have never been higher for Erdoğan and the AKP government.
In 1984, the modern gambling regulation started with the legalization of horse racing betting. Casinos emerged in 1990, triggering a short-lived boom. This ended in 1998 with a full casino restriction due to crime concerns and high-profile incidents. Public appetite for gambling persisted in spite of the restriction, and the state expanded its own controlled offerings.
Key milestones include 2004, launch of IDDAA, the state sports betting platform.
2006-2007, regulations restricting all online gambling except by state channels.
2013, penalties for financial institutions, as well as individuals connected to offshore gambling.
2019, ten-year license granted to the Sisal-Şans Joint Venture Group modernize state-controlled gambling.
As of today, Turkey maintains one of the most restrictive gambling systems in Europe. With online casinos, poker, and other gambling verticals still illegal, legal gambling remains confined to a state-controlled monopoly. Penalties include multi-year prison terms and heavy judicial fines for giving or facilitating gambling services.
