Turkish authorities have started targeting payment processing as one of the key points within the illegal betting industry. According to local and state-linked reporting, the latest operations covered more than TL40 billion in alleged transaction volume across two separate probes. Industry reports have described the combined value as more than $900 million. Turkish reporting mainly stated the figures in lira.
Payments Become the Main Target
The bigger operation was overseen by the Diyarbakir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and its cybercrime divisions. The raids were carried out simultaneously across 41 provinces.
According to investigators, 111 suspects were detained. The case revolves around alleged payment collection for illegal betting platforms. A MASAK report quoted by Turkish media outlets estimates the total volume of transactions at TL35.86 billion. Investigators also froze 190 bank and crypto accounts, along with assets including cars, motorcycles, and two land plots.
The operation was not limited to the search for betting websites. It also targeted local channels that facilitated money transfers between bettors, intermediaries, and offshore operators.
MYPAYZ Case Adds Pressure on Fintech Links
Another investigation that took place in Istanbul centered around MYPAYZ Elektronik Para ve Ödeme Hizmetleri A.Ş. According to the prosecutors, the company’s infrastructure was allegedly used to support illegal betting transactions.
An investigation was initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against 23 suspected individuals. Initial reports said 20 suspects had been detained, while three others were still being sought. The alleged transaction amount was estimated to be TL5 billion. Subsequent local reports revealed that 15 suspects were placed under arrest while seven were released on judicial control terms.
MYPAYZ was already facing regulatory pressure before this raid. The Central Bank of Turkey had already ended MYPAYZ’s authorization, with the decision published in the Official Gazette on February 1, 2026. The company was listed as being in liquidation.
Financial Access Becomes the Weak Spot
Turkey’s legal betting market operates within a narrow state-approved framework. Financial transactions become one of the easiest areas for law enforcement officials to target. A betting website can switch domains, but it still requires a payment channel.
That helps explain why recent measures against illegal betting have not only been related to website access. Legal action extended to payment and fintech-related companies, such as PayFix, Papara and Papel during 2025-2026. In those cases, investigators have been looking at financial accounts, wallets, crypto routes, and payment gateways.
Conclusion
The recent steps taken by Turkey suggest a more pragmatic approach to enforcement. Apart from blocking access to illegal betting sites, the country is making it harder for those platforms to take deposits and process withdrawals. This step could prove much more harmful for the illegal supply than merely adding blocked domains to the list. When payments slow down or become unreliable, users tend to leave faster.
