05.03.2025 21:30
Details have emerged regarding the indictment prepared as part of the illegal betting investigation involving Acun Ilıcalı, the owner of the TV8 and Exxen platforms. The indictment seeks prison sentences ranging from 1 year and 3 months to 5 years and 3 months for Ilıcalı and 7 of his executives. The details of the indictment also include matches where advertisements for illegal betting sites were placed.
Details of the indictment prepared against Acun Ilıcalı and Sadettin Saran, as well as the channel and platform managers, have emerged, with a request for prison sentences of up to 5 years and 3 months for their involvement in illegal betting advertisements during certain football matches broadcasted on TV8, Exxen, and S Sport platforms.
As a result of investigations opened regarding the allegations of illegal betting advertisements in some football matches broadcasted on the "S SPORT" platform under Saran Internet Television Broadcasting AŞ and on TV8 and Exxen, prison sentences have been requested for the managers of both media organizations.
IDENTIFIED IN THESE MATCHES
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that the investigation was initiated ex officio, and that the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) and the Cyber Crime Department of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command were requested to identify the broadcasts of matches with illegal betting advertisements.
According to the response from RTÜK, during the broadcast of the Montenegro-Turkey football match played on November 19, 2024, by the media service provider named TV8 Broadcasting Inc. and the on-demand media service provider named Exxen Digital Broadcasting Inc., advertisements for unlicensed and illegal betting sites were placed on stadium advertising boards and next to both goals using virtual advertising techniques, and administrative sanctions were applied regarding this.
According to the letter from the Cyber Crime Department, it was reported in the indictment that summaries of the football matches between LOSC (Lille)-Fenerbahçe on August 6, 2024, Iceland-Turkey on October 14, 2024, and Wales-Turkey on September 6, 2024, were shared on the Exxenspor YouTube channel, and similarly, advertisements for unlicensed and illegal betting sites were placed in these videos.
The indictment stated that all matches summarized and published on the Exxenspor YouTube channel were obtained from RTÜK and sent to the Cyber Crime Department of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command for examination, and it was determined that the aforementioned betting advertisements were broadcasted as a result of the investigations.
INVESTIGATION OF ILICALI AND 7 MANAGERS
The indictment stated that the advertisements in the broadcasts of the matches under investigation reached a wide audience, and it was noted that betting games, which are characterized as "digital drugs," negatively affect individuals both materially and spiritually, making them conducive to disrupting the structure of society.
It was also stated in the indictment that the broadcasting of illegal betting advertisements placed physically or virtually on stadium advertising boards in match broadcasts constitutes a crime from the broadcaster's perspective.
In the indictment, it was requested that Ali Acun Ilıcalı, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TV8 TV Broadcasting Inc. and Exxen Digital Broadcasting Inc., Ebru Atasav Tahrancı, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of both companies, Mustafa Tarık, Member of the Board of Directors of TV8 TV Broadcasting Inc., Responsible Manager Bülent Uçak, General Editor Aslı Yaşaroğlu, General Manager of Exxen Digital Broadcasting Inc. Ümmü Burhan, Responsible Manager Burcu Batu Fakir, and the Broadcasting Director of both companies, Attila Ceciloğlu, be sentenced to imprisonment from 1 year and 3 months to 5 years and 3 months for the crime of "encouraging individuals to place bets or play games of chance based on sports competitions." The indictment approved by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was sent to the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance.
REQUEST FOR PRISON SENTENCE FOR S SPORT MANAGERS
In the indictment prepared by the prosecutor's office, based on the findings of RTÜK for the year 2023, it was stated that advertisements for illegal betting sites were virtually placed on stadium advertising boards and next to the goals during some football matches broadcasted on the S Sport platform.
In this context, it was requested that Saadettin Saran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saran Internet Television Broadcasting AŞ, Alan Kenan Saran, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and General Managers Azade Zeynep Haksal and Emre Eren be sentenced to imprisonment from 1 year to 5 years and 3 months for the charge of "encouraging individuals to place bets or play games of chance based on sports competitions."
STATEMENTS OF THE SUSPECTS
Accordingly, the suspects stated that the broadcasts of the matches under investigation were obtained from the contracted organization or sports clubs, and that they were obliged to broadcast the matches without interference under the contracts.
The suspects expressed that the organization or club providing the match broadcasts did not provide any information to the broadcaster regarding the broadcast content, and noted that the broadcaster did not receive any income from the advertisements in question.
Moreover, the suspects argued that it was technically impossible to broadcast the match in a way that would censor illegal betting advertisements, and therefore many broadcasters, including themselves, had to broadcast matches containing illegal betting advertisements.
Both indictments stated that illegal betting games could negatively affect individuals materially and spiritually, disrupting the social structure. The Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance continues to examine the indictments.