Minister Vows "Day of Reckoning" for Those Tainted by Betting Scandal.

Minister Vows Accountability in Betting Investigation

Minister Vows "Day of Reckoning" for Those Tainted...

Turkey's Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, has issued a strong statement regarding the ongoing investigation into illegal betting, promising that those involved will be held accountable. Speaking at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Planning and Budget Commission during discussions on the Ministry's 2026 budget, Bak emphasized the government's commitment to "clean football, clean sports."

Crackdown on Illegal Betting Intensifies

Bak detailed the multi-pronged approach the government is taking to combat illegal betting and virtual gambling. He highlighted the introduction of "player identity" requirements for legal betting platforms, a measure designed to track transactions and prevent underage individuals from participating. This system utilizes the MERNIS (Central Population Administration System) to verify age and link betting activity to bank accounts.

Inter-Agency Collaboration

The Minister emphasized the collaborative nature of the effort, noting that Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz is leading a task force comprised of representatives from various ministries and agencies, including MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board), the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, and the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan publicly affirmed the government's commitment to eradicating illegal betting in September, followed by the publication of a Presidential Circular outlining an "Action Plan for Combating Illegal Betting, Games of Chance and Gambling in the Virtual Environment (2025-2026)."

Leveraging Technology and Auditing

Bak further stated that operations are underway targeting illegal betting and money laundering, with audits of sports clubs being conducted under Law No. 7405. He also highlighted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and shut down illegal betting websites, acknowledging the challenge of new sites rapidly emerging.

"Illegal sites give a 'payout' of 95 percent," Bak explained, emphasizing the need for constant monitoring and rapid removal of these sites. He noted that the AI initiatives are being carried out in collaboration with TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey).

Addressing concerns about the adequacy of the budget allocated to combat addiction, Bak defended the figure of 59 million 400 thousand liras, arguing that a significant portion of the Ministry's budget is directly or indirectly related to addiction prevention, citing the construction of sports facilities as an example. He reiterated the government's determination to eliminate illegal betting and ensure a fair and transparent sporting environment.