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Turkish authorities detained 80 suspects on Friday in coordinated raids across 24 provinces after uncovering an alleged match-fixing and betting network that processed ₺192 billion ($4.2 billion) in transactions.
The operation, coordinated by the Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and carried out by Istanbul-based financial crimes units, targeted a criminal network that allegedly generated income through pre-arranged sporting events and both legal and illegal betting activities.
According to prosecutors, proceeds from the scheme were funneled through cryptocurrency wallets before being routed to additional accounts with unidentified owners, obscuring the movement of funds.
Investigators also uncovered the involvement of suspects operating in the foreign exchange and jewelry sectors.
As part of the probe, authorities seized 83 movable and immovable assets valued at ₺350 million ($7.7 million) that are believed to have been acquired through criminal proceeds. Bank accounts and cryptocurrency holdings linked to the suspects were also frozen.
Authorities have yet to disclose further details regarding which leagues, matches and clubs are involved in the match-fixing allegations.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said a separate investigation uncovered an electronic money and payment services company allegedly used to facilitate illegal betting and launder criminal proceeds.
The company processed ₺2.1 billion in transactions in 2024, leading to legal action against 26 suspects in Istanbul, Kocaeli and Yalova.
The latest operation comes amid a broader crackdown on illegal betting and alleged match manipulation in Turkish football.
In May 2025, Turkish authorities detained executives of digital payments company Papara as part of a money laundering investigation linked to illegal betting activities, leading to the appointment of state trustees to oversee the fintech firm and several affiliated businesses.
The crackdown widened in October 2025, when authorities launched sweeping investigations into alleged match-fixing and illegal betting involving referees, club officials, commentators and players. As part of the probe, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended dozens of referees pending further investigation.
As of the latest available data from October 2025, Turkish security forces had conducted 1,120 operations targeting illegal online betting and gambling, resulting in the seizure of ₺15.85 billion in cash and assets.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz previously estimated Türkiye's illegal betting market at between $20 billion and $60 billion, stating that authorities are stepping up efforts to combat the sector through AI-assisted monitoring, international cooperation and new legislative measures.
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