Turkey: Influencer arrested for illegal gambling advertising

Turkish police have launched an investigation into at least 20 suspects for promoting illegal gambling by publicly advertising sports betting and casino websites. But what punishment can the influencers in Turkey expect if they are convicted of illegal gambling advertising?

A few days ago, the Public Prosecutor General's Office in Istanbul announced that investigations had been launched against 20 people for illegal gambling advertising. The majority of the suspects are said to have advertised gambling offers on social networks. This is said to have promoted illegal gambling in the country. We first reported at the end of October that influencer and world-class footballer Alisha Lehmann was promoting an illegal online casino.

Turkey: Celebrities among those arrested

Several celebrities are said to be among the suspects arrested by the Turkish police. Specifically, they are said to include the ex-footballer Batuhan Karadeniz. The 33-year-old Turkish footballer played for FC St. Gallen and Turkish first division club Sakaryaspor, among others, during his career. He is also accused of illegal gambling advertising. However, the Turkish police have not yet been able to question Karadeniz about the allegations, as he is currently believed to be in Georgia.

In addition to Karadeniz, former professional footballer Ibrahim Yilmaz is also said to be one of the suspects in the case. The 30-year-old midfielder was under contract with Istanbulspor and Erzincanpor, among others. He has since given up his sporting career and is now only active as an influencer. In June of this year, GambleJoe discussed elsewhere that influencers are no longer allowed to advertise sports betting in France.

Illegal gambling providers are increasingly relying on influencers

Not only in Turkey, but also in many other countries, the operators of illegal gambling sites are increasingly relying on the reach of well-known influencers. The illegal online casinos and betting providers are advertised by the influencers in return for payment. However, this form of gambling advertising is prohibited in Turkey and is punished with severe penalties.

Gambling is generally strictly regulated in Turkey. Back in 2006, the decision was made to ban the entire online gambling sector with the exception of state-run offerings. In the UK, gambling advertising featuring celebrities has been banned since mid-2022.

The investigation is being conducted by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office. Not all suspects have yet been arrested or questioned. Some of them are also believed to be abroad and therefore currently unavailable to the Turkish authorities.

Conclusion

Influencers who want to advertise illegal gambling and enter into lucrative casino deals are finding it increasingly difficult to avoid getting into trouble with the investigating authorities. In many countries, influencers with a wide reach already face severe penalties if they advertise illegal gambling on social media. The Turkish authorities are clearly no longer having any fun with this issue and are taking tough action against the players. They face a fine or even a prison sentence in Turkey.

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