Turkey Detains 108 in AI-Assisted Illegal Betting Operation
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The investigation also highlighted Turkey’s growing use of artificial intelligence tools in cybercrime enforcement.
The operation was coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and carried out by cybercrime units from the Istanbul Police Department. Raids took place simultaneously across 35 provinces, targeting networks accused of organizing illegal betting activity, directing users to unauthorized gambling platforms and generating criminal income through online channels.
According to Turkish authorities, access to 5,151 internet addresses linked to illegal gambling activity was blocked during the operation. Officials said the websites included online betting platforms, promotional and referral pages, and payment-related digital infrastructure used to support the alleged operations.
Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said investigators uncovered approximately TRY 8.7 billion linked to the case. “In the virtual world, another dirty network has been dismantled”, Gürlek said in a statement shared on social media.
AI System Used to Analyse Hundreds of Thousands of Messages
A central part of the investigation involved the use of AVCI, an AI-supported open-source intelligence analysis system developed by Istanbul police. Authorities said the system reviewed approximately 600,000 messages collected from digital groups allegedly connected to illegal betting and gambling activity.
Investigators used the platform to identify suspect profiles, communication patterns, physical addresses and alleged roles within the network before carrying out coordinated raids.
Officials stressed that the AI technology was used by law enforcement as an investigative tool and not by the gambling operation itself. Police also seized large amounts of digital material during searches carried out as part of the operation. The devices and data are expected to undergo further forensic analysis as the investigation continues.
The detained suspects remain under questioning and are expected to be referred to judicial authorities following police procedures.
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Turkey Expands Focus on Illegal Betting and Financial Crime
Turkey has intensified enforcement against illegal betting networks and financial crime in recent years, particularly following international scrutiny over anti-money laundering controls and digital financial activity.
Authorities have increasingly focused on how illegal gambling groups use encrypted communication channels, referral systems, online payment methods, and constantly changing websites to avoid detection, following earlier enforcement actions against social media accounts accused of promoting illegal gambling activity in Turkey.
The latest operation also reflects broader concerns over digital financial crime. According to Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board, authorities completed hundreds of illegal betting analysis files during 2025 while suspending transactions linked to accounts allegedly tied to illegal gambling organizers.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan previously stated that illegal betting and gambling “must be eradicated,” while regulators and law enforcement agencies continue increasing pressure on underground online gambling operations.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities review seized digital evidence and examine the wider structure of the alleged betting network.
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