29.06.2026 17:01
During the Drug and Gambling Addiction seminar organized by the Denizli Provincial Security Directorate, Denizli Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger, giving an example from his own family, revealed that illegal websites indiscriminately reach everyone. Governor Köşger stated that promotional messages from gambling sites were also sent to his wife, saying, "They will even make my wife a gambling addict."
Specialist personnel from the Denizli Provincial Police Department's Narcotics Crime Branch and Cyber Crime Branch explained measures to be taken against two major threats endangering society.
The program held at the 15 July Martyrs Anatolian High School Conference Hall was attended by Denizli Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger, public institution representatives, neighborhood administrators, school administrators, non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives, and political party officials. The seminar, which began with a moment of silence and the Turkish National Anthem, highlighted the individual and societal harms of drug and virtual gambling addiction. Experts speaking at the seminar noted that with technological advancements, digital environments and social media have reached their peak, facilitating access to virtual gambling and drugs.
"THEY WILL EVEN TURN MY WIFE INTO A GAMBLING ADDICT" Speaking at the seminar, Denizli Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger stated that a quarter of the world's population suffers from various addictions such as alcohol, smoking, drugs, and gambling. Noting that both the world and our country are facing the threat of virtual gambling and drug addiction in recent times, Governor Köşger expressed that humanity is heading toward destruction in the clutches of these dangers. Referring to children from well-off, well-educated, and well-known families in his previous postings who lost their assets and were driven to suicide due to virtual gambling habits, Governor Köşger noted that in the past, accessing harmful habits like gambling was difficult. Mentioning that virtual gambling ads even reach his wife's phone, Governor Köşger said, "Now everything is inside the phone. Everything is in your hands. They will almost turn even my wife into a gambling addict. They somehow found her phone number and said, 'We've given you this much advance, go ahead and start playing from one end.' They've also programmed algorithms. First, they make you win, then they start making you lose little by little and accelerate it. They make you go through a process that continues until all your assets are taken."
"EVERY INDIVIDUAL MUST BE VIGILANT" Stating that all segments of society, especially families, need to be very careful, Governor Köşger said, "It's not just about gambling; very easy access opportunities have emerged for drug addiction and all other base activities as well. Therefore, the danger is huge. The scale of the danger has greatly increased. As the state, as the police, as the gendarmerie, as security forces, we are doing our best to take all measures. Our colleagues are making efforts. They have various applications, as they told you. We are trying to prevent them with these, but the scale of the danger is very large, my dear Denizli citizens. Therefore, we must fight as a society, collectively. Teachers at school, administrators and principals at school, elders on the street, shopkeepers on the street, non-governmental organizations on the street, neighborhood administrators in the neighborhood, residents in the neighborhood, and of course, above all, mothers and fathers must be vigilant, they must be fighting, they must first and foremost take care of their own children. They must follow the changes in their children moment by moment and be aware. All of us must be vigilant."
"WE WILL DO OUR BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN" Emphasizing that the problem of drugs and virtual gambling continues to be a problem not only in Denizli but across the country and even the world, with severe consequences, Denizli Police Chief Yavuz Sağdıç said, "These two issues are very important topics that are rising not only in our province but in all provinces of Turkey and even the world, continuing to be a problem, and causing very bad results, including psychological consequences, suicides, and deaths related to substance addiction. We are here to address this issue, to explain this topic to you, and we held this meeting and these seminars with you under the instructions of our Governor. The key to drug and gambling addiction is never starting. That is why we gathered you and provided this information. While giving this training, we aimed for you to request from us; as many people as you can find, we will provide this training to as many people as we can reach throughout Denizli—to mothers, fathers, families, and expectant mothers. Because the essential thing is never to start. Once started, it is difficult to recover. When we carry out this awareness activity, it is a preventive measure. By doing this preventive activity, we will do everything in our power to keep our children and youth away from gambling and drugs, and in this way, we will significantly reduce the rates."