Minister Şimşek: We are determined to prevent unregistered economic activities and financial crimes

//

Lerato Khumalo

The General Directorate of National Lottery Administration (MPI), affiliated with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, stepped in to shut down 233 thousand websites last year within the scope of combating illegal betting and virtual gambling.

According to the information obtained by the AA correspondent from the Ministry, MPI’s fight against illegal betting, virtual gambling and unauthorized draws continues uninterruptedly.

Within the scope of the monitoring and inspection duty given to it by the relevant legislation, MPI detects illegal betting and virtual gambling sites and the sites and accounts that advertise and direct them and carries out the necessary legal actions.

In this context, 168 thousand 30 websites were detected in 2023 and 233 thousand websites in 2024, and a notification was made to the Information Technologies and Communication Authority to prevent access to these publications.

MAJORITY OF THE SITES ARE US ORIGIN

It was determined that 56 percent of the 233 thousand illegal sites, whose access was blocked by the administration in 2024 and broadcasting from 95 different countries, were from the USA, 17 percent from Armenia, and 6 percent from the Netherlands.

In addition, in order to ensure the punishment of criminal publications and activities, criminal complaints were filed with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office last year for 375 thousand 367 websites and 6 thousand 731 unique domain names, whose access was blocked on the grounds that they were offering illegal betting and virtual gambling by the end of 2024.

These websites were also reported to the General Directorate of Security, Department of Combating Cyber ​​Crimes, to be evaluated in the fight against crime and criminals. While investigations into the matter continue, the judicial process is being closely followed.

FOLLOWING UNAUTHORIZED SWEEPSTAKES ON THE INTERNET

On the other hand, necessary administrative and judicial measures are taken for illegal lotteries held in physical or virtual environments without permission from the National Lottery Administration. In this context, the Administration filed a criminal complaint with the competent Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office about 286 unauthorized draws and practices in 2024 and demanded legal action against the relevant person, business or account holders.

In addition, for some lotteries held in a physical environment, local authorities were notified and various administrative sanctions, including license cancellation, were implemented.

WARNING TO CITIZENS ABOUT UNAUTHORIZED GIVEAWAY

Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek also pointed out the importance of the fight against illegal betting and virtual gambling and said, “We are determined to prevent unregistered economic activities and financial crimes that cause tax loss and victimization of our citizens. We will take all kinds of measures to prevent illegal betting, virtual gambling and unauthorized draws.” “We are buying, we will continue to buy.” he said.

Şimşek, who warned especially about unauthorized raffles organized on social media, continued his words as follows:

“In order to prevent our citizens from suffering, I would like to remind you that organizing a lottery or raffle without permission from the Administration is a crime punishable by imprisonment from 3 to 6 years and a judicial fine. Accordingly, it is mandatory to obtain permission to organize any lottery or lottery of goods, whether paid or free of charge. Otherwise “You may face administrative, financial or criminal sanctions stipulated in the relevant legislation.”

Şimşek noted that their fight against criminal activities such as illegal betting, virtual gambling and unauthorized raffles will continue uninterruptedly.