20.08.2025 12:30
In a statement from the Ministry of Trade, it was stated that "access to 30 social media accounts with a high number of followers, identified as promoting illegal betting and gambling, has been blocked."
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A striking written statement has come from the Ministry of Commerce, which is engaged in a determined fight against illegal betting and gambling advertisements. The statement indicated that access was blocked to 30 social media accounts with high followers.
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS UNDER SCRUTINY
The announcement from the Ministry of Commerce is as follows: "In the 360th meeting held on August 14, 2025, by the Advertising Board of the Ministry of Commerce, illegal betting and gambling advertisements were one of the main agenda items of the meeting. Social media accounts that encourage consumers to participate in live betting and promote gambling have been put under scrutiny.
ACCESS BLOCK TO 30 ACCOUNTS
As a result of evaluations made by the Advertising Board, it has been decided to impose access restrictions on 30 social media accounts with high followers that were found to be advertising illegal betting and gambling and directing consumers to various illegal sites. Additionally, it has been decided to make the necessary applications to the relevant institutions to initiate judicial investigation processes regarding the mentioned social media accounts and the subjects of illegal betting and gambling sites.
"INSPECTIONS WILL CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED"
As the Ministry of Commerce, our efforts and inspections will continue uninterrupted to protect consumers' rights, to combat illegal advertising activities effectively and decisively, and to keep the society, especially the younger generation, away from such harmful effects."
MINISTER YERLİKAYA: 8 SUSPECTS ARRESTED
On the other hand, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated today that 8 of the 43 suspects captured in operations against illegal betting and qualified fraud crimes in 5 provinces have been arrested.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, in a statement made on his social media account, noted that many mobile phones, SIM cards, computers, bank cards, and digital materials were seized during the operations against illegal betting and qualified fraud crimes. Yerlikaya stated: 'In our operations conducted by our gendarmerie centered in 5 provinces against the crimes of 'illegal betting and qualified fraud'; we captured 43 suspects with a transaction volume of 1 billion TL in their accounts. 8 were arrested. Judicial control measures were applied to 29. The procedures for the others are ongoing.'
FRAUD WITH FAKE ADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
In operations conducted in Antalya, Muğla, Şanlıurfa, Amasya, and Düzce, as well as Gaziantep, Hatay, İzmir, Istanbul, Mersin, Bursa, Aydın, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Adana, Ankara, Kahramanmaraş, Ordu, Isparta, Sakarya, and Sivas, it was determined that the suspects captured were running illegal betting through websites and facilitating illegal money transfers, and were defrauding our citizens by posting fake ads for 'electric bicycles, mobile phone sales, and investment consultancy' on social media platforms. Investigations have been initiated by our prosecutors against these individuals. As a result of the operations, many mobile phones, SIM cards, computers, bank cards, and digital materials were seized.'
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