Turkey Gambling Tax Revenue Surges to TRY50bn in 2025
Turkey’s gambling-related tax intake has surged sharply in 2025, underlining both the expansion of the regulated market and the state’s intensified crackdown on illegal betting networks. Government data shows gambling tax revenues reached TRY 50.2 billion (around US$1.18 billion) during the first eleven months of the year, already surpassing the full-year total recorded in 2024.
Policy Shifts Drive Revenue Growth
The sharp rise follows major regulatory and fiscal adjustments introduced after Turkey’s 2023 general election. Authorities doubled tax rates on sports betting, horse racing and several other betting verticals, fundamentally reshaping the revenue base. Although limited reductions were later applied toward the end of 2023, tax receipts have continued climbing, indicating market expansion beyond simple rate increases.
The scale of growth becomes clearer in historical context. In 2020, gambling tax revenues stood at just TRY 3.46 billion, meaning today’s figures represent more than a fourteenfold increase within five years, an exceptional trajectory by international standards.
Digitalisation Reshapes the Legal Market
A pivotal turning point came in 2020 when Turkey’s National Lottery operations were transferred to Sisal Şans, a joint venture between Demirören Group and Italy’s Sisal. This transition accelerated the shift away from occasional lottery draws toward always-on digital gambling platforms.
As a result, consumer behaviour evolved rapidly. Participation moved from periodic ticket purchases to continuous engagement through online systems, fundamentally altering the structure and scale of regulated gaming activity across the country.
Parallel Illegal Market Triggers Enforcement Push
Alongside legal market growth, Turkish authorities have been battling a rapidly expanding illegal betting ecosystem. Interior Ministry figures reveal that between January 2024 and early October 2025, police carried out 1,120 enforcement operations, seizing cash and assets worth TRY 15.8 billion (approximately US$373 million).
Online enforcement has been particularly aggressive. During the first eleven months of 2025 alone, access was blocked to more than 31,000 illegal betting websites, with thousands of suspects detained as investigations widened across digital networks.
Payment Platforms and Financial Channels Under Scrutiny
Recent investigations have increasingly focused on financial infrastructure believed to support illegal betting activity. In November, prosecutors placed payment provider IQ Money under state control after identifying transaction flows inconsistent with legitimate commercial operations.
Further probes resulted in arrests tied to money laundering schemes involving cryptocurrencies and informal cross-border payment systems. Courts also ordered asset freezes against electronic payment firms and appointed trustees to media-linked companies accused of facilitating illegal betting operations.
Ongoing Challenges Despite Revenue Gains
Despite booming tax receipts, officials acknowledge that illegal gambling remains deeply entrenched. Estimates suggest unlicensed betting activity may rival or even exceed the legal market in size.
A 2025 nationwide study conducted across 26 provinces found that 6.6% of recent gamblers admitted to using illegal online platforms, highlighting persistent risks from unregulated operators. The findings suggest that while enforcement has intensified, full market channelisation remains a work in progress.
As Turkey’s gambling sector continues to grow, authorities face the dual challenge of sustaining tax momentum while closing the gap between regulated offerings and the shadow market that continues to attract a significant share of players.
