Trustee Appointed to GAİN Media in Illegal Betting Probe

Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has appointed a trustee to GAİN Media, the digital streaming platform, as part of an ongoing investigation. While the case file is said to include allegations involving illegal betting-related financial structures and corporate links, authorities reported that Turkey’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) has been assigned to oversee the company’s management as trustee. Officials said the investigation is ongoing and remains under judicial supervision.

Trustee Appointed to GAİN Media

Under an investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, a trustee has been appointed to GAİN Media. It was reported that TMSF—Turkey’s state body that can be tasked with managing companies under court orders—has been assigned to take over the company’s administration, and that the decision was issued by judicial authorities within the scope of the investigation.

The trustee appointment does not necessarily mean the company’s operations are being halted; rather, it typically involves temporary management and oversight to monitor financial and administrative processes. The investigation is reported to include allegations related to money laundering, aggravated fraud, and disputed financial transactions. Authorities emphasized that any final judgment will be determined through the judicial process.

Key Allegations Under Review

According to information reflected in reporting on the investigation file, there are allegations of financial structures linked to illegal betting activities as well as transfers of funds between companies. Sources cited in the coverage suggest that certain revenues were allegedly circulated through different entities, potentially to obscure financial movements.

Officials have stressed that the claims are allegations and that the investigation has not been concluded. Alongside the illegal betting dimension, reviews reportedly continue into corporate relationships, financial transactions, and money transfers. Any definitive assessment, authorities say, will only come at the end of legal proceedings.

What Journalist Murat Ağırel Said in His Posts

Journalist Murat Ağırel shared a thread today on X (formerly Twitter) discussing allegations involving BK, described in the investigation as a businessman. Ağırel wrote that there have been public claims linking BK to the illegal betting sites Youwin and Marsbahis. He also referred to BK’s past ownership of “Ukash card,” an electronic payment system, and said advertisements and member emails allegedly indicated the system could be used to deposit money to illegal betting sites.

Ağırel added that Ukash card was later sold, and that another payment system—Otopay—was subsequently established. He said there were claims that certain transactions routed through such payment systems could be connected to illegal betting activity, while noting it is unclear whether and how judicial authorities have evaluated those claims.

Ağırel also stated that he spoke directly with BK during the process of writing a book. According to Ağırel, BK acknowledged having owned Ukash card but said he had no connection to illegal betting. Ağırel further listed what he described as BK-linked companies, their establishment dates, business areas, tax payments, and rapid investment activity, arguing these topics deserve public scrutiny.

The GAİN Sale and the Anahat Media Process

The sale of GAİN Media to Anahat Media Inc. has also drawn attention as part of the wider discussion around the investigation. According to Turkey’s Trade Registry Gazette records, Anahat Media Inc. was established on 12 December 2024. Records indicate that GAİN Media’s shares were transferred to Anahat Media during 2025.

No official purchase price has been publicly confirmed. However, some reports and public commentary have claimed that GAİN changed hands for a significant amount and that the transfer was accompanied by capital increases and large fund movements. It has also been suggested that financial activity between company accounts over a short period is being reviewed, though there has been no official confirmation of exactly when or how such claims entered the investigation file.

SA, the owner of Anahat Media, confirmed that the acquisition took place and said he met BK in the UK. SA stated that he has no connection to illegal betting and rejected any allegations suggesting otherwise.

Claims About BK-Linked Companies and Financial Structure

BK is widely reported to have multiple companies operating across different sectors. Publicly discussed information suggests these businesses span construction, agriculture, media, and entertainment, with particularly notable activity in media and film investments in recent years.

Separate claims circulating in the public domain allege inconsistencies between audience numbers and box-office revenue for certain films produced through these structures. Some commentators argue that unusually high reported revenue despite low viewership has raised money laundering allegations via film production and distribution channels. It remains unclear whether these claims are included in the official case file; however, reporting suggests corporate financial structures and commercial relationships are under scrutiny.

What Happens Next?

As the investigation and trustee decision continue to shape the agenda, observers are watching closely for the next steps. Officials say the trustee management is a temporary measure and that the outcome will depend on judicial proceedings. Further official statements from GAİN Media, the prosecutor’s office, and TMSF are expected to clarify outstanding questions.

At the same time, attention is also focused on how this process may affect GAİN’s sponsorship agreements, including its shorts sponsorship with Fenerbahçe’s men’s first team, its partnerships with Beşiktaş JK, and its naming and shirt-front sponsorship of Galatasaray’s women’s football team, and whether these collaborations will continue.