Red Notice for Ex-footballer Batuhan Karadeniz in Illegal Betting Case

Interpol has issued a Red Notice for former Turkish international footballer and now casino-focused streamer Batuhan Karadeniz, following an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into alleged illegal betting and money laundering. As part of the probe, all of Karadeniz’s assets in Türkiye have been frozen, while authorities believe he is currently abroad.

Background to the Investigation and Charges

The investigation into former Besiktas team player Batuhan Karadeniz was launched by the Bureau for Anti-Smuggling, Narcotics and Economic Crimes under the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

At the heart of the case are allegations that Karadeniz used his public profile and online presence to promote illegal betting activities, directed followers to offshore gambling platforms that are banned in Türkiye, and helped move or disguise the proceeds of these activities.

According to prosecutors, content shared on Karadeniz’s social media accounts amounted to advertising for unlicensed betting sites, with viewers being guided towards these platforms through links and repeated mentions. In the case file, he is treated as a suspect under Law No. 7258, which regulates betting and games of chance, as well as under provisions related to laundering the proceeds of crime. These accusations form the basis for the subsequent Red Notice request.

Why a Red Notice Was Issued?

The decision to seek a Red Notice is rooted in an arrest warrant already issued in Türkiye as part of the ongoing investigation. Prosecutors concluded that Karadeniz had been abroad for a considerable period and did not respond to calls to give a statement, prompting them to ask for international assistance.

A Red Notice is not a conviction or an international arrest warrant in the strict legal sense; it is an Interpol alert that allows member states to locate and, where their laws permit, temporarily detain a person wanted in another country pending extradition.

In Karadeniz’s case, the Red Notice is intended to identify his whereabouts, secure his provisional detention if he is located, and open the way for formal extradition proceedings. Entering his details into the Interpol system underscores how seriously Turkish authorities are treating the case and highlights that the allegations have now taken on an international dimension.

Scope of the Asset-freezing Oorder

In parallel with the Red Notice, a Criminal Judgeship of Peace in Türkiye ordered the freezing of all assets registered in Batuhan Karadeniz’s name.

The decision covers:

• Real estate and movable property

• Bank accounts and other financial instruments

• Shares in companies and commercial partnerships

• Digital and cryptocurrency holdings

All of these have been temporarily blocked as a precaution.

The stated aim of the measure is to prevent any transfer, concealment or liquidation of assets while the investigation is underway, and to protect potential evidence. Officials stress that this is not a final penalty but a protective measure that will remain in force until the legal process is concluded. Given the alleged financial scale of the illegal betting activities, the broad scope of the freeze is presented by authorities as proportionate to the risks involved.

Allegations About the Illegal Betting Network

The accusations against Karadeniz go beyond isolated posts or one-off collaborations. According to the investigation file, the claims centre on the idea that he became an active channel for illegal betting content through his social media accounts and livestreams.

Prosecutors say that Karadeniz regularly appeared on platforms popular with younger audiences, where he allegedly promoted or normalised the use of unlicensed betting sites. On some broadcasts, he is said to have featured casino-style content and gambling-themed streams, which investigators believe helped drive traffic to offshore platforms blocked in Türkiye. These broadcasts, presented in an entertaining and informal tone, are alleged to have functioned as persistent advertising.

The case file also notes that the allegations are not based solely on what appeared on screen. Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) has reportedly examined bank movements, digital wallets and possible fund transfers connected to Karadeniz and the wider network. The presence of suspicious financial flows in these records is cited by officials as evidence that the claims are reinforced by financial data, not just online complaints or public criticism.

Investigators further suspect that Karadeniz did not act alone, but was linked to a broader illegal betting network believed to have generated significant unlawful income in Türkiye. In this picture, social media figures and streamers are seen as the “promotion arm” of the structure, helping it reach larger audiences and legitimise its platforms in the eyes of viewers. Taken together, these elements suggest to prosecutors that the case against Karadeniz is not merely about breaches of social media rules, but about alleged involvement in a much more organised operation.

Karadeniz’s Situation Abroad and Possible Extradition

According to information included in the case documents, Batuhan Karadeniz has not been in Türkiye for some time, and authorities formally recorded the fact that he is believed to be overseas. This is one of the key reasons cited for pursuing the Red Notice.

Officials have not publicly confirmed his exact location, but several reports suggest that Karadeniz may currently be in Georgia. While these claims remain unverified, the belief that he is abroad and not returning voluntarily prompted prosecutors to seek international assistance and to request that Interpol circulate his details to member countries.

If Karadeniz is located in another state, the Red Notice will allow Türkiye to request that he be provisionally detained while Ankara submits a formal extradition request through diplomatic and judicial channels. The existing arrest warrant and the asset-freezing order are expected to be central elements of any extradition file prepared by the Turkish Ministry of Justice.

His presence abroad also means that he has not yet been able to participate directly in the domestic investigation by giving a formal statement in person. Prosecutors note that this complicates the progress of the case. Even so, the combination of the Red Notice and the expanded financial investigation has effectively lifted the case from a purely national matter to one with clear cross-border legal implications.

Who is Batuhan Karadeniz?

Batuhan Karadeniz was born on 24 April 1991 in Istanbul. He came through the youth system of Beşiktaş, one of Türkiye’s biggest clubs, and quickly drew attention as one of the country’s most promising young forwards. Over the course of his professional career, he played for Beşiktaş, Eskişehirspor, Trabzonspor, Sivasspor and Swiss side St. Gallen, among others. He spent many years representing Türkiye at youth level and eventually made appearances for the senior national team, being remembered as a talented but at times inconsistent attacking player of his generation.

After hanging up his boots, Karadeniz moved into sports media. He initially appeared as a pundit on various YouTube-based sports channels, offering opinions on matches, players and current football topics. He later launched his own platform, the BK Sports YouTube channel, where he shares post-match reactions, commentary on developments in Turkish and international football, and informal chat-style broadcasts with his audience. Through regular uploads and livestreams, he built up a substantial following.

Karadeniz continues to broadcast on BK Sports, but the ongoing investigation has cast uncertainty over the future of his online career. Observers are now watching to see whether the former footballer turned casino-focused streamer will change direction, tone down his content, or attempt to continue with the kind of casino-themed broadcasts that previously drew criticism and ultimately caught the attention of prosecutors.