Turkey’s illegal gambling sector could be valued between $20 billion and $60 billion, according to Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, as authorities continue a nationwide crackdown on underground betting networks, money laundering operations and organized crime.
Speaking after a recent cabinet meeting, Yılmaz said estimating the exact size of the black market is difficult due to the hidden nature of illegal betting activities. However, government assessments suggest the sector has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry operating outside official controls.
Turkish authorities have intensified enforcement efforts over the past two years, targeting illegal gambling platforms, financial networks and crypto-related laundering schemes. Earlier this month, law enforcement completed the third phase of a major anti-money laundering operation linked to illegal betting syndicates. Officials said the criminal network handled around $3 billion in monthly transactions.
Yılmaz warned that illegal betting operations are often connected to money laundering, organized crime and terrorism financing. He also stressed that underground gambling platforms provide no consumer protections, operating without age restrictions, income checks or regulatory safeguards.
Turkey was placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list in 2021 over concerns tied to anti-money laundering controls. The country was removed from the list in 2024 after international authorities acknowledged improvements in enforcement and financial oversight.
According to Yılmaz, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has instructed government agencies to continue expanding the fight against illegal betting through stronger legislation, international cooperation and financial monitoring. Turkish authorities are also working with banks and other financial institutions to identify suspicious transactions and disrupt illegal gambling flows.
The warning comes amid broader concerns about the growth of unregulated gambling worldwide. Recent industry research estimated the global illegal gambling market could now account for as much as $5.9 trillion in annual wagering activity.