The Isle of Man’s Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) has intensified its fight against the black market by teaming up with the authorities in Turkey.
The GSC revealed that it has been assisting Turkey by notifying operators of foreign prohibitions, allowing the Turkish authorities to enforce their market-access rules.
A report recently released by the General Directorate of the National Lottery Administration (MPi) revealed that over 5,000 websites located in the Isle of Man have been blocked, which were found to be targeting Turkish players.
In total, 84,585 websites were blocked across 70 countries, with more than half being based in the US.
The GSC emphasised that working alongside Turkey marks just the latest step in its efforts to collaborate with regulators around the world.
According to the Commission’s website, it has previously worked with regulators such as the Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority and Spillemyndigheden – Denmark’s gaming regulator.
The GSC said in a statement: “This cooperation demonstrates the GSC’s willingness to assist counterparts in other jurisdictions in addressing illegal gambling activity and to protect the integrity and reputation of the Isle of Man’s framework.
“The GSC also works to take action and ensure the timely removal of sites illegally purporting to hold a GSC licence which may appear to be based in or operate through the Isle of Man through IP routing.”
Global collaboration has been cited as a crucial tool in tackling the black market. Unlicensed operators are penetrating markets from offshore locations, as discovered by the MPi report.
The strategy of blocking ISPs or IPs is not dissimilar to the approach recently undertaken in France by the ANJ to ensure that access to prediction markets is thwarted.
As part of its efforts to tackle the black market, the Commission in the Isle of Man has also established an Intelligence and Enforcement Division, which it said will allow for greater specialisation towards identifying and addressing illegal gambling activity.
In many ways, going after the source of traffic and taking aim at ISPs and IPs is the last step before lasering in on payment processors, which is a far more strenuous process.
That being said, Turkey has not shied away from aggressive action against the fintech sector.
Turkey gets tough on the black market
The collaboration forms part of a wider strategy from President Recep Erdoğan, as he fulfils a manifesto pledge set during the last election campaign.
Authorities have targeted the wider digital economy as part of the crackdown, clamping down on the fintech sector and online social media accounts that promote illegal gambling platforms – leading to 2105 social media accounts being blocked.
The clampdown began in October 2025 with the introduction of the AKP government’s action plan to eliminate illegal gambling and deliver on promises made by Erdoğan during Turkey’s last general election.
The Financial Intelligence Board of MASAK has also been installed to monitor transactions and intervene on e-money mules, false accounts and fraudulent business related to illegal operators.
