Gambling Laws in Turkey

There is no legal gambling in Turkey, with the exception of sports betting and lotto. According to the Turkish Criminal Code, casino and poker games, as well as other forms of gambling such as roulette, pinball, and slots are considered to be illegal. Although it is not explicitly prohibited, these laws also make online gambling in Turkey illegal, which was further confirmed by the Law Regarding Internet Broadcasting and Combatting Criminal Offences Committed via Internet Broadcasting.  The only two forms of gambling which are allowed in Turkey as they are not mentioned in the Turkish Criminal Code, include games of chance (Şans Oyunları) and betting (Müşterek Bahis). Both are currently operated by Turkish government agencies under the following legal regulations: the Decree No. 320 regarding the National Lottery Administration, the  Law Regarding Football and Other Sports Betting, and the Law Regarding Horse Racing.  The lotteries in Turkey are regulated by the Ministry of Finance and the National Lottery Administration (Milli Piyango İdaresi). Sports betting is regulated by the Ministry of Sports and the Spor Toto Association while horse race betting is regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Turkish Jockey Club. According to Turkish gambling laws, minors under 18 years of age are prohibited from participating in gambling activities in the country. 

Is Online Gambling Legal in Turkey? Partly. With the exception of sports betting and lotto games, all other forms of online gambling are considered to be illegal in Turkey, according to the Law Regarding Internet Broadcasting and Combatting Criminal Offences Committed via Internet Broadcasting.

Online Casinos in Turkey

Although there were several land-based casinos until the late 1990s, these games were banned along with online casino sites in Turkey. Thus, and although the Government is active in blocking foreign platforms, gamblers can still find ways to circumvent the law to access those websites, as it is the safest way to play casino games in the country. 

Online Poker in Turkey

Online poker sites in Turkey are also not legal. Even though there are no specific Turkish poker laws, the prohibition on casino games coming from the application of the Turkish Criminal Code holds for this game as well. As a result, players usually access offshore websites that give them the opportunity to compete against the best players in the world.  

Online Lottery in Turkey

Decree No. 320 regarding the National Lottery Administration, which is regarded as the Turkish lottery law, makes lotto games in Turkey legal if they are licensed by the National Lottery Administration. In this way, the National Lottery (Milli Piyango) is the only authorized lottery game operator. But this monopoly poses restrictions to players, which is why they usually use offshore online lotto sites in Turkey.

Online Bingo in Turkey

As it is the case with other forms of gambling, bingo is also illegal. Although there are no specific Turkish bingo laws, the prohibition on forms of online gambling in the country holds for this game too and there are no online bingo sites in Turkey. But players find ways to circumvent the law and access international platforms. 

Online Sports Betting in Turkey

Online sportsbook sites in Turkey are legal. According to the law, it falls on a state-monopoly and the authorities are active in trying to stop bettors from using private operators. However, Turkish are able to bypass the Government’s measures and access international platforms that offer more sports and higher odds. 

Online DFS in Turkey

There are no online DFS sites in Turkey. Although the status of Daily Fantasy Sports is a frequent topic of discussion between lawmakers worldwide, it is plausible to suppose that this game, due to the legality of online sports betting in Turkey, will also become legal soon.