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Turkish authorities arrested 11 social media influencers Thursday in connection with alleged illegal gambling activities on Key Drop, a Counter-Strike case-opening platform, amid growing concerns that Türkiye may follow other European nations in restricting CS:GO gambling sites.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued detention orders for 19 suspects after the Cybercrime Department identified high-profile social media personalities allegedly profiting from Key Drop broadcasts on Twitch, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. During virtual patrol operations, investigators determined that these influencers were opening virtual cases on the Key Drop platform and converting gaming items won alongside other users into real money.
Police arrested 11 suspects while eight others remain at large, with five reportedly abroad and two outside the city. The detained suspects were transferred to the Istanbul Courthouse following processing at police headquarters.
The investigation centers on allegations that the social media personalities generated illegal profits while encouraging their followers to engage in gambling activities through their streaming content. The Cybercrime Department's virtual patrol activities specifically monitored broadcasts across multiple platforms where influencers with high follower counts were observed using the Key Drop website.
Key Drop is a third-party platform launched in 2018 that allows users to open virtual cases for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive items, participate in "case battles," and upgrade skins. The platform operates independently from Valve Corporation, the game's developer, and has become popular among CS:GO players despite operating in a legal gray area regarding gambling regulations.
Türkiye's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) previously blocked access to Key Drop under decision number 490.05.51.2023.-307865, though the restriction was lifted shortly afterward without a public explanation for either the initial ban or its reversal. This regulatory uncertainty has created confusion about the legal status of such platforms in Türkiye.
The recent arrests suggest Turkish authorities are taking a firmer stance on what they classify as gambling activities disguised as gaming content. The investigation specifically focuses on the conversion of virtual items to real money and the encouragement of gambling behavior among viewers, particularly given the young demographics typical of gaming content audiences.
Speculation has circulated since February 2025 about potential broader restrictions on CS:GO or Steam access in Türkiye, following patterns established by other countries with strict anti-gambling regulations. However, no official announcements have been made regarding such restrictions.
The Turkish investigation occurs against a backdrop of diverse international responses to CS:GO case opening and related gambling activities. The Netherlands and Belgium have implemented the most restrictive measures, completely banning CS:GO case opening since 2018 after classifying loot boxes as gambling under their respective legal frameworks.
Following rulings by the Netherlands Gaming Authority and Belgian authorities, Valve updated CS:GO to restrict container opening for players in these countries. Users in the Netherlands and Belgium receive messages stating their country does not allow case opening when attempting to access the feature.
Austria's legal system has also taken action against CS:GO gambling. In December 2023, an Austrian court ruled that CS:GO case opening constitutes illegal gambling and ordered Valve to refund a player €14,096.58 ($16,314.54). The ruling determined that under Austrian law, loot boxes require a special license that game operators like Valve do not possess.
Poland has taken specific action against Key Drop, adding the platform to its Ministry of Finance's "illegal gambling sites" registry in November 2023 and blocking access to the website. This ban affects users' ability to access funds without using virtual private networks, with potential fines for circumventing restrictions.
France has implemented a unique approach, requiring players to use a special device called the P250 X-Ray to scan cases, effectively removing the gambling element by eliminating randomized outcomes. Germany and Spain have focused their regulations on protecting minors rather than implementing complete bans for adult users.
Key Drop's terms of service place responsibility on users to ensure compliance with local laws, though the platform does not provide an explicit list of restricted countries. The website maintains a 5-star rating from 45,911 reviews on Trustpilot as of April 2025, indicating continued user engagement despite regulatory concerns in various jurisdictions.
The platform employs what it describes as "provably fair technology," though it has faced criticism for lacking full odds disclosure, raising questions about fairness and transparency. Reviews have noted that Key Drop operates as an "unlicensed" platform, highlighting its existence in legal gray areas within regulated jurisdictions.
The investigation in Türkiye represents the latest development in ongoing global scrutiny of platforms that blur the lines between gaming and gambling, particularly when promoted through social media content to potentially vulnerable audiences.
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