14.03.2025 19:32
Prof. Dr. Afşin Şahin, a faculty member at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, evaluated the methods of laundering illegal gambling revenues and the regulations made in the fight against financial crimes. Explaining the reasons for the decision to seize Flash TV, Şahin stated that illegal gambling revenues are funneled into the system through various investment instruments.
In recent years, the inclusion of illegal gambling revenues into the economy through various means has become a significant issue. One of the most commonly used methods in this process is real estate and company investments. Prof. Dr. Afşin Şahin emphasized the necessity of stricter supervision and deterrent penalties in the fight against illegal gambling, highlighting that the TMSF's authority to seize assets is crucial for the proper conduct of investigations.
"ILLEGAL GAMBLING CAUSES GREAT HARM TO THE ECONOMY"
Prof. Dr. Afşin Şahin stated that illegal gambling revenues should not be viewed merely as individual criminal activities, noting that this money contributes to the growth of the informal economy and results in significant tax losses for the country. He expressed that revenues obtained through illegal means finance organized crime groups, emphasizing that this situation creates devastating effects on the economy. Şahin pointed out the importance of regulations introduced within the scope of the alignment process with the European Union in combating financial crimes, particularly stressing the need for stricter supervision of online payment systems.
"ILLEGAL GAMBLING REVENUES ARE LAUNDERED THROUGH VARIOUS INVESTMENT VEHICLES"
Addressing the methods of laundering illegal gambling revenues, Şahin stated that this money is largely funneled into the system through real estate, vehicles, crypto assets, and company investments. He emphasized that financial transactions in areas with high money movement should be carefully examined, noting the critical importance of banks and financial institutions' responsibility to report suspicious transactions to MASAK.
"DETERRENT PENALTIES CAN PREVENT ILLEGAL GAMBLING"
Şahin pointed out that illegal gambling advertisements are one of the largest sources of income for betting sites, stating that such advertisements need to be strictly monitored and penalties should be increased. He emphasized that if supervision in online financial transactions remains insufficient, illegal gambling activities will spread rapidly, indicating that more effective regulations and sanctions are inevitable.