20.02.2026 08:40
An illegal betting operation was carried out against 19 suspects in 5 provinces centered in Istanbul. A trustee was appointed by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) to the Clone Payment Organization and PBM Tech Information. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek stated yesterday regarding the illegal betting issue, "We have solved the system, we will eradicate it."
An illegal betting operation was carried out in 5 provinces centered in Istanbul. As part of the operation targeting 19 suspects, the Clone Payment Organization and PBM Tech Information were appointed as trustees by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) on the grounds that they provided financial infrastructure to groups committing illegal betting crimes.
THERE IS A STATEMENT FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Office for the Prevention of the Financing of Terrorism and Money Laundering regarding violations of Law No. 7258, Money Laundering of Proceeds of Crime, and Establishing an Organization for the Purpose of Committing Crimes, determined that there is strong suspicion of crime regarding the Clone Payment Organization providing financial infrastructure to groups committing illegal betting crimes under the guise of being a legal payment service provider, as identified in the examinations and audits conducted by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB). It was understood that the criminal proceeds obtained by the organization as a result of this financial infrastructure were funneled into the financial system and laundered using shell companies and complex money transfer cycles.
"IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT PROVIDED VIRTUAL POS INFRASTRUCTURE"
In the TCMB audit reports, it was determined that the organization provided virtual POS infrastructure to illegal betting sites, and that the names of the betting sites were clearly listed in the fields showing the addresses from which transactions originated in the organization's database, yet the transactions were knowingly and willingly continued.
"IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF MONEY TRANSFERS WERE MADE"
In the financial analyses conducted, it was found that a large number of transactions were carried out from different accounts within a short period from the organization's accounts, mostly involving low amounts but with a high volume of money transfers, a significant portion of the transactions occurred between 00:00–06:00 hours, there were high-volume money inflows and outflows within narrow date ranges, numerous demand accounts were opened on the same day, and high-volume transfers contrary to the ordinary course of life were made on the day of account opening, with transaction descriptions containing terms like "bet," "betting," "casino," "gambling," and "slot," indicating that the organization lacked a control mechanism to prevent illegal betting transactions, and it was claimed that the accounts opened in the organization's name and allocated to individuals engaging in illegal betting were also opened by direct instruction from the General Manager.
"STRONG SUSPICION OF CRIME WAS FOUND"
When the collected evidence was evaluated together, it became apparent that there was strong suspicion of crime regarding the use of the organization for the collection, transfer, and injection of revenues obtained from illegal betting activities into the financial system. Additionally, it was determined that the criminal proceeds obtained by the organization were transferred to the accounts of PBM Tech Information, in which it has a 90% stake, and from there, within very short periods, were transferred to the personal accounts of individuals who are suspects in the investigation file, and that large amounts of cash were withdrawn from these accounts, as noted in the MASAK reports.
OPERATION AGAINST 19 SUSPECTS
In this context, simultaneous capture, search, and seizure operations were carried out by the Cyber Crime Combat Branch of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command targeting a total of 19 suspects in Ankara, Balıkesir, İzmir, and Çorum provinces, centered in Istanbul. With the operation, Clone Payment Organization Inc. and PBM Tech Information Inc. were appointed as trustees by the decision of the Istanbul Duty Magistrate.
MINISTER GÜRLEK HAD GIVEN A SIGNAL
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek emphasized "zero tolerance" in the fight against illegal betting and drugs. Minister Gürlek, who stated, "We have solved the system," said that operations against illegal betting and drug networks targeting especially young people would continue decisively in all 81 provinces.