01.12.2025 15:35
With the new regulation prepared as part of the fight against illegal gambling, the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) will gain the authority to immediately freeze suspicious bank accounts without a court order. It is stated that the regulation aims to prevent the rapid transfer of illegal gambling revenues.
As illegal betting traffic has rapidly increased in recent years, the comprehensive action plan prepared by MASAK has reached its final stages. Following the cabinet meeting, the work that has gained momentum has started to reflect on the public regarding the provisions directly related to the banking system.
CAN FREEZE ACCOUNTS WITHOUT A COURT DECISION
According to the draft regulation prepared, MASAK will gain expanded authority while tracking illegal betting revenues. When the regulation comes into effect:
- Suspicious bank accounts can be blocked instantly without a court or prosecutor's decision.
- The institution can take measures regarding assets on its own.
- This step aims to prevent the rapid transfer of money within illegal betting networks.
JANUARY 1, 2026: NEW ERA IN MONEY TRANSFERS
A significant portion of the regulations is aimed at banking transactions. Starting from January 1, 2026:
- There will be a requirement to enter a description for all money transfers exceeding 200,000 TL within a day.
- Mobile banking, internet banking, and ATM transactions will fall under this scope.
- If the limit is exceeded while making a transaction at the ATM, the transaction cannot be completed without entering a description of at least 20 characters.
Therefore, starting from the new year, the warning "Description entry required" will frequently appear on ATM screens.
OBJECTIVE: TO PREVENT RISKY MONEY MOVEMENTS
Experts state that the main goal of the regulations is to reduce risky money movements in the financial system and cut off the financing of illegal betting networks. Thanks to mandatory descriptions, both the money traffic will become more transparent, and suspicious transactions can be detected much more quickly.