Turkey’s AI Hunter Tracks Illegal Betting Networks as 121 Suspects Held

ISTANBUL, Turkey – Turkish authorities ordered 121 suspects held pending trial on November 7 following a nationwide investigation into illegal betting networks. The operation used an artificial intelligence system called AVCI to identify suspected gambling activity on Telegram and other messaging platforms.

Police conducted coordinated raids across 39 provinces on November 3, targeting 194 suspects and taking 169 into custody. Investigators say the AI-assisted analysis helped identify individuals, their suspected roles and connections within illegal online betting operations.

Turkey Orders 121 Suspects Detained After Raids in 39 Provinces

The investigation was coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and carried out by the Istanbul Police Department’s Cybercrime Division.

Authorities initially detained 151 suspects during the November 3 raids before locating another 18 individuals. Following judicial proceedings on November 7, courts ordered 121 suspects detained pending trial, placed 45 under judicial supervision and released three without restrictions.

Investigators focused on groups allegedly coordinating illegal betting operations through Telegram. The investigation examined the people managing gambling platforms, providing technical infrastructure and facilitating related financial transactions.

Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) also reviewed financial records associated with suspected participants. Prosecutors reported substantial transaction activity connected to the investigation, although an overall financial value was not specified in the initial official announcements.

The authorities have not announced convictions in connection with the operation. Investigations into the alleged networks and the individuals involved remain ongoing.

AI Hunter Identifies 306,000 Messages Across 47 Groups

A central part of the investigation involved AVCI, meaning “hunter” in Turkish, an AI-powered open-source intelligence analysis system developed by Istanbul police.

The software uses natural language processing to examine conversations and identify coded language, slang and combinations of emojis that suspected criminal groups may use to conceal their activities.

AVCI can also examine photographs and videos, connect accounts operating under different identities and map relationships between members of suspected networks. These capabilities allow investigators to examine large volumes of digital information and identify potential connections that would otherwise require extensive manual analysis.

According to a November 8 report by Turkish newspaper Sabah, AVCI identified approximately 306,000 messages potentially linked to illegal betting activity across 47 groups. Those figures were reported by the newspaper and were not separately detailed in the official November 7 custody announcement.

The report also identified a 21-year-old software developer as a suspected organizer of the operation. He allegedly used the name of British lottery winner Michael Carroll as his Telegram alias.

Investigators reportedly examined groups responsible for gambling website infrastructure, payment processing, customer support and the movement of money. The suspected networks were allegedly organized across different operational roles rather than managed entirely through individual betting accounts.

Previous reporting on AVCI indicates that the system can preserve communications obtained during authorized monitoring, allowing investigators to retain relevant material even when messages are subsequently deleted. However, the precise technical methods and their use in the latest investigation have not been independently established.

Turkey Expands AI-Assisted Illegal Gambling Enforcement

The November operation follows an earlier AI-assisted betting crackdown in May 2026, when Turkish authorities detained 108 suspects during coordinated raids across 35 provinces.

In that investigation, AVCI reportedly analyzed approximately 600,000 messages linked to suspected illegal gambling networks. Authorities also blocked access to 5,151 gambling-related websites, including betting platforms, promotional pages and payment services.

The earlier case demonstrated how Turkish investigators were beginning to combine AI-based communication analysis with financial intelligence and conventional police searches.

Unauthorized online sports betting is prohibited in Turkey. Enforcement agencies have increasingly focused on suspected operators using messaging applications to advertise gambling services, recruit customers and coordinate transactions outside the authorized betting system.

The November 7 custody decisions represent another major enforcement action involving this technology. However, identifying suspicious communications does not itself establish criminal liability, and the allegations against those detained remain subject to judicial proceedings.

Investigators are continuing to examine the suspected betting networks, their financial arrangements and the people responsible for their operations. The latest case illustrates the growing role of AI-assisted analysis in Turkey’s efforts to detect and investigate illegal online gambling.

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