19.07.2026 22:20
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that 6,314 bank accounts determined to have been used for illegal betting before the World Cup final have been identified, and letters have been sent to banks to block them. Minister Gürlek said, 'Additionally, 19 foreign financial houses believed to be operating integrated with illegal betting sites have been exposed, and judicial proceedings have been initiated to apprehend 23 suspects.'
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced that 6,314 bank accounts determined to be used for illegal betting purposes before the World Cup final have been identified. Stating that official letters have been sent to banks to freeze these accounts, Minister Gürlek emphasized that the financial monitoring of illegal betting networks continues with determination.
In his statement on social media, Gürlek said: "Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we continue our fight against illegal betting, virtual gambling, and proceeds of crime with determination in coordination with our Ministry of Interior.
In this context, our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, through its Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Investigation Bureau, conducted a comprehensive study before the World Cup Final Match.
Within this scope, 6,314 bank accounts used in illegal betting traffic were identified, and simultaneous writs were sent to banks to impose instant blocks on these accounts at the start of the final match. Additionally, 19 foreign financial houses believed to be integrated with illegal betting sites were uncovered, and judicial proceedings were initiated to arrest 23 suspects.
I thank our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, our Istanbul Provincial Police Department, and all public officials involved in this process for their meticulous work. We will never allow the illegal betting and virtual gambling order that targets the labor of our youth, the peace of our families, and the future of our nation."