Authorities in Turkey have been warned by Yeşilay (The Green Crescent) that “gambling addiction is growing in numbers and its intensity on public impact”.
Turkey’s heritage public health NGO focused on the prevention and research of addictions, Yeşilay has published the “Kumar Raporu 2025” (Gambling Report 2025). The NGO presented a comprehensive analysis of gambling trends, addiction rates, and the social and financial damage linked to gambling harms in Turkey.
The report emphasises that gambling addiction in Turkey has intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic, driven largely by a shift towards digital platforms, be they licensed or illegal. On prevalence, the report cited that 1-in-10 Turkish consumers aged above 15 has gambled at least once in the past month, a rate that continues to rise.
Early exposure was flagged as a serious public health concern, especially considering that Turkey’s legal gambling age is set at 18 for state-regulated platforms. The fact that individuals as young as 15 are already engaging with gambling underscored the urgent need for tighter protections and preventive educational campaigns. The early onset was directly linked to the rise of online gambling accessibility, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between 2021 and 2024, over 15,600 individuals sought support for gambling addiction through YEDAM counselling centres, operated by Yeşilay. Gambling-related cases now account for 28% of all addiction consultations, reflecting the growing demand for specialised treatment services. The report emphasised that psychological harms associated with gambling are severe, citing increased instances of shame, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Of grave concern, research indicated that suicide attempts linked to gambling addiction are higher than those related to other forms of addiction, “around 20% of individuals with gambling addiction attempt suicide – a rate higher than that seen with any other form of addiction”.
A generational divide is evident as the report identified digital gambling platforms such as mobile betting apps, online casinos, esports betting, and loot boxes in video games as major drivers of addiction, particularly among younger users. These digital channels have made gambling more accessible, private, and normalised, blurring the boundaries between gaming and gambling.
Beyond individual harm, the report drew attention to the financial and familial consequences of gambling addiction. Many individuals experience debt, loss of savings, and even bankruptcy, while the impact often ripples outward to affect partners, children, and extended family members. At present limited support structures compound these challenges, leaving many affected households isolated in their struggle.
Despite Turkey’s strict legal restrictions on gambling, the report noted a visible rise in illegal and offshore platforms, particularly online. These unregulated environments bypass domestic controls and expose vulnerable users to high-risk gambling without oversight. “Without stronger digital regulation and enforcement mechanisms, the scale and impact of gambling addiction will likely worsen in the coming years,” Yeşilay concluded.
This concern is echoed internationally. Commenting on the wider implications of unregulated gambling environments, Stasya Yautodzyeva, Head of Analytics at 4H Agency, said: “The absence of formal regulation in the gambling sector significantly increases public health risks by removing institutional oversight and enabling uncontrolled market growth: excessive gambling behaviour can flourish unchecked, particularly among vulnerable and low-income populations who are more susceptible to addiction and financial harm.”
On existing policies, the NGO views gaps in legislation as new gambling formats have outpaced the existing definitions of Gambling & Sports Betting Law of 2007, established by the AKP government and President Recep Erdoğan. However the report chooses not to explicitly critique the entire legal framework in a systematic way, providing no actual recommendation on policy reforms.
Green Crescent carries weight
While the Yeşilay report stops short of directly critiquing Turkey’s legal framework, it subtly indicates that current legislation is outdated. The existing Gambling and Sports Betting Law of 2007, established under the ruling AKP government, no longer reflects the realities of digital gambling in 2025.
Yeşilay’s findings will carry weight on Turkey’s government. Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, a key policymaker in President Erdoğan’s administration, admitted during the annual meeting of the High Council for Combating Addiction that gambling addiction remains a blind spot in the country’s otherwise expansive addiction prevention strategy – in which Yeşilay serves as the principal NGO.
“We have made remarkable progress on drugs, smoking, alcohol and digital wellbeing, but gambling especially online gambling remains a blind spot that must be addressed,” Yılmaz said.
2025 political fallouts
Yılmaz’s comments have fuelled speculation that President Erdoğan may be forced to pivot on gambling policy – especially amid mounting opposition attacks. Former AKP minister and now opposition leader Ali Babacan warned: “Any serious investigation into illegal gambling would expose networks tied to Erdoğan’s inner circle.”
These accusations gained further traction with the Papara scandal, in which the CEO of the Istanbul-based fintech app was accused of facilitating over ₺12.9bn (€340m) in illegal betting transactions through more than 26,000 user accounts. The government’s silence on the matter has only deepened public suspicion and reinforced the perception that powerful interests may be shielding parts of the illegal gambling ecosystem.
In 2025, enforcement efforts appear to be ramping up, with calls for national police and intelligence agencies to mirror their anti-narcotics strategies in combating illicit gambling.
However, despite rhetorical momentum, there has been no meaningful advance against the black market. The opposition remains doubtful that the government will act swiftly or transparently, especially when such actions may risk implicating political allies or diminishing hidden revenue streams.
“We cannot fight gambling addiction effectively if enforcement protects some and punishes others,” Babacan has said.
As gambling-related harms escalate – psychologically, socially, and economically – a defining question emerges: Will Turkey accept its policy failings and finally treat gambling addiction as a public health matter rather than a criminal liability?
Until that shift happens, the country’s most vulnerable populations — particularly its youth remain at risk, trapped between a growing digital gambling industry and a system unwilling or unable to catch up.
Commenting on the Turkey’s of policy inertia, Stasya Yautodzyeva, of 4H Agency, concluded: “Without licensing systems, mandatory self-exclusion tools, and enforceable harm-reduction protocols, consumers are left exposed to predatory practices – often driven by aggressive, unmonitored advertising and the operations of illegal online platforms.
The regulatory vacuum not only weakens consumer protection but also renders public health planning ineffective. With no data reporting obligations for operators and no centralized monitoring of gambling activity, governments are left unaware of the scale and severity of gambling-related harm.”
Ultimately, detailed and enforceable regulation remains the only viable mechanism to protect consumers, collect reliable data, and mitigate the societal harms associated with gambling. Without it, both individuals and institutions are left to navigate the risks in the dark.”
