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Illegal betting and gambling have become widespread in Türkiye, with one in six people reported to be involved, according to a field survey commissioned by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and cited by the Turkish media outlet on Thursday.
The survey, conducted in November, found that illegal betting has reached particularly high levels among young people.
According to the findings, 15.4% of individuals aged 18–24 engage in illegal betting, while the rate exceeds 13% among those aged 25–34.
Data also showed that those involved in illegal betting are largely high school graduates, unskilled workers and small tradespeople.
The report noted that illegal betting websites use aggressive online advertising strategies to target young people, adding that football has increasingly been transformed into a “gambling tool” rather than a sport.
It also said illegal betting causes an estimated $150 billion to flow out of the country annually, highlighting the issue’s socio-economic impact beyond public order concerns.
Figures from Türkiye’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) were cited as confirming the scale of the problem, showing that the majority of websites blocked for access violations are related to gambling and betting.
Experts stressed that efforts to combat illegal betting cannot rely solely on police operations and require a comprehensive social approach that includes education, awareness and economic support.
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