13.12.2025 17:45
The Minister of Justice, Yılmaz Tunç, announced that they have started working on increasing the penalties related to illegal gambling, stating, "Legislative work has been initiated to increase the penalties by re-evaluating the sanctions in the Misdemeanor Law."
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced via his social media account that legislative work will be initiated to increase the penalties for illegal betting and gambling as stated in the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).
'PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS IS THE GOAL' Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated in his social media post that illegal betting, gambling, and online gambling have become a threat that undermines family integrity, targets youth, and poses risks to public order as they spread in digital platforms. He said, "With the Circular published on October 31, signed by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a determined fight against this threat has been demonstrated with all the resources of our state. The Action Plan for Combating Illegal Betting, Gambling, and Gaming in the Digital Environment aims to identify the source of the crime, ensure rapid intervention, cut off financial and digital infrastructure, prevent crime proceeds, and protect our citizens."
'REGULATIONS REGARDING MOBILE LINES ARE BEING INTRODUCED' Stating that important regulations regarding mobile lines have been introduced to prevent cyber crimes, Tunç said, "The responsibilities of public institutions have been determined based on strengthening the legal and administrative infrastructure in the fight against these crimes, enhancing inspection and sanction mechanisms, and increasing inter-institutional coordination. With the efforts we are undertaking as the Ministry of Justice, concrete steps are being taken to prevent crimes committed through information technology, and important regulations regarding mobile lines are being introduced. This aims to enable a more effective fight against fraud crimes."
Minister Tunç provided information about the regulations in the 11th Judicial Package accepted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly's Justice Commission, stating:
'RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IMPOSED BY BTK' "In crimes committed using information systems, suspicious bank and financial accounts can be suspended for up to 48 hours, and in these crimes, the immediate confiscation of the subject matter of the crime can be carried out without the requirement of a report as stated in Article 128 of the Criminal Procedure Code. If the confiscated amount is found to belong to the victim, it will be returned directly to the rightful owner. To prevent delays in investigations; banks and financial institutions will be required to send the requested information and documents within 10 days by the public prosecutor, judge, or court. To prevent accounts used in illegal betting and fraud; it will not be possible to open accounts without biometric verification or chip ID at electronic payment institutions. To ensure strict supervision of GSM lines; line subscriptions will only be possible with electronic identity verification, the number of lines that can be opened in one person's name will be limited by BTK, lines belonging to deceased individuals or those whose legal personality has ended will be closed through periodic checks, and special number allocation will be applied to foreign nationals."
'WORK HAS BEEN INITIATED TO INCREASE PENALTIES' "Special provisions in the TCK have been reconsidered, and legislative work has been initiated to increase penalties."
Minister Tunç emphasized that penalties for illegal betting and gambling offenses will be further aggravated, stating, "Additionally, the special provisions regarding gambling offenses, illegal betting, and games of chance in the Turkish Penal Code, as well as the sanctions in the Misdemeanor Law, have been reconsidered, and legislative work has been initiated to increase penalties. With the regulations to be made in this context, penalties will be further aggravated for illegal betting and gambling offenses committed in an organized manner or targeting children. We will continue to take determined and strong steps against this threat that drags people into a spiral of debt and irreversibly darkens lives, and we will stand firmly against every structure that threatens our social peace."