Turkey’s National Lottery Office Backs Erdoğan’s War on Illegal Gambling

Turkey’s national lottery office, the Milli Piyango İdaresi (MPİ), has officially demonstrated its support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s campaign against illegal gambling as the country is still reeling from betting scandals.

MPİ Issues an Official Statement Supporting the President’s Efforts

Earlier this week, MPI Chairman and General Manager Ekrem Candan submitted a dossier containing 420,000 criminal complaints against websites promoting illegal gambling. In a press statement, Candan expressed support for MPI’s role in the initiative, noting that the organization had delivered years of evidence to MASAK,  which is Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board. The organization is spearheading the government’s coordinated crackdown on illegal gambling.

Candan also met with senior MASAK officials, presenting data identifying 239,000 domains in direct violation of Turkish gambling laws. Candan told reporters that Turkey is facing a borderless threat targeting its youth, economy, and the integrity of its society. He emphasized that the matter extends beyond gambling, describing it as a national security issue.

MPI’s statement comes at a time when Turkey is reeling from national betting scandals. Just a couple of weeks ago, it was discovered that hundreds of Turkish soccer officials had placed unauthorized bets. 

MASAK Doubles Down on Illegal Gambling

The development comes after the release of President Erdoğan’s 2025–2026 Action Plan for Combating Illegal Betting, Games of Chance, and Virtual Gambling, which was enacted at the beginning of November. The plan places the entire government under Erdoğan’s direct oversight, with MASAK serving as the central coordinating body among the various ministries.

According to reports, MASAK has been monitoring illicit financial flows exceeding TRY 5.8 billion ($13.2 million) since the beginning of 2024, while strengthening its anti-money laundering efforts and payment monitoring systems. Since May, Turkish authorities have reportedly blocked more than 10,500 international gaming servers and 1,473 advertising websites.

In its statement on the Action Plan, MASAK noted that tools such as social media, payment systems, and crypto assets have made access to illegal gambling activities easier, giving the issue a cross-border dimension. The agency emphasized the need for continuous improvements in detection, intervention, and monitoring capabilities, as well as the adoption of innovative countermeasures.

The unit has also uncovered offshore hosting networks based in Malta, North Macedonia, and Georgia. This has led Ankara to issue a warning that “aggressive measures” will be taken against any jurisdictions or entities facilitating Turkish-facing black-market gambling operations.

MASAK further stated that, although efforts to combat illegal gambling are already multifaceted, the growing technological and financial sophistication of these operations makes it imperative to reinforce the legal and administrative framework against illicit websites.