MASAK Begins Crypto Tracking Following Illegal Betting Circular

A Presidential circular published in the Official Gazette initiated a new action plan against illegal betting and gambling activities. While the plan, coordinated by MASAK, focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency tracking, critical questions about banks, other payment institutions, and the infrastructure firms that form the backbone of these illegal sites remain following the Papara and PayFix operations.

The Illegal Betting Circular published by the Presidency in the Official Gazette outlines the roadmap for the fight against online gambling and chance games for the 2025-2026 period. The circular mandates enhancing technical competence and supervision capacity against these activities, which threaten family integrity, public order, and fuel the shadow economy. According to the plan, AI-supported systems will be deployed under the coordination of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), specifically targeting the money laundering of criminal proceeds facilitated by crypto betting. Despite these determined steps, the most critical “grey areas” and fundamental questions regarding the sector continue to be debated following recent operations against payment institutions.

Uninterrupted Tracking in Crypto and Digital Payment Networks

The most critical innovation in the 2025-2026 Action Plan, which aims to cut the financial lifelines of illegal betting networks, is the tracking of Crypto Betting flows. The fight will no longer be limited to traditional banking methods or simple digital wallets.

MASAK AI System Deployed: The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) is deploying advanced tracking models supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI) for this purpose. The new system will analyze not only traditional financial data but also on-chain data.

This data matching will allow for the tracking of complex crypto transfer chains, including:

• Decentralized exchanges (DEX),
• Frequently used stablecoin transfers like USDT-TRC20,
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) wallet movements,
• Even the flow of NFTs and gaming tokens.

This technological approach directly answers the common query: “How is illegal crypto betting detected?” The AI will be able to monitor the entire chain—from fund collection to fund distribution and cashout—in real-time, identifying the exact point where the funds meet fiat (traditional currency) via which bank, FinTech, or payment institution layer. This aims to completely eliminate the digital financial loopholes exploited by criminals.

Critical Unanswered Questions in the Shadow of Operations: Banks, Crypto Firms, and Infrastructure Companies

While the Presidential circular demonstrates technological resolve against illegal betting offenses, criticism persists regarding the need to hold all parts of the system accountable for the fight to achieve full success. As journalist Murat Ağırel pointed out, critical “grey areas” and unanswered questions remain in the sector following the recent Papara, PayFix operations. The key points highlighted in Murat Ağırel’s article on November 1st are:

• Why Are Banks and Crypto Firms Silent? While executives of intermediary institutions like Papara and PayFix have been arrested, the status of investigations into the state and private banks and international crypto firms where these illegal betting proceeds were transferred remains unclear. Shouldn’t these final destinations of the funds also be entities obligated to combat money laundering? Will their oversight and legal responsibilities be more clearly defined in the new action plan?
• What Steps Will Be Taken Against Other Payment Institutions? Questions arise regarding the future of other payment institutions known to facilitate illegal betting sites, such as Paratim, Payco, Papel, Peppara, and Sipay. The sector is expecting strengthened preventive mechanisms and a thorough cleanup of these intermediaries, rather than just post-facto license revocations.
• Will Illegal Betting Infrastructure Firms Be Shut Down? While social media giants can be blocked if necessary, why are the underlying infrastructure providers like Pronet Gaming, Betco, Digitain, and Cascade, which form the backbone of illegal betting sites, not completely shut down? Experts argue that using the authority to shut down infrastructure firms could solve the problem fundamentally.

These questions necessitate that the crackdown targets not just intermediary institutions, but the entire financial and technical ecosystem.

The Ultimate Success of the Fight: Is it Banning Methods or Regulating the System?

The 2025-2026 Action Plan, initiated with the Presidential circular and the deployment of MASAK AI systems, will certainly be effective in cutting off illegal betting money flows in the short term. However, sector experts emphasize the need for a more radical approach for a sustainable, long-term solution.

The criticism suggests that merely banning methods does not provide a permanent fix. Today’s targets—cryptocurrencies, online wallets, and digital payment systems—did not exist 10 years ago, yet illegal betting thrived. Just as new methods emerged when systems like Ukash or EcoPayz were discontinued, the sector will inevitably find another loophole.

Consequently, banning these methods individually will not be sufficient to solve the problem in the long run. According to experts, the only way to end illegal betting is through the re-regulation of the market. Only if respected global betting operators are integrated into the Turkish market and a transparent new system is established will the financial appeal of illegal betting venues truly disappear. The ultimate goal of the fight should be to control the market by offering a legal alternative, rather than just chasing the avoidance of bans.