AI-Backed Illegal Betting Operation In Turkey: 108 Suspects Detained

Turkish authorities have carried out a large-scale operation against illegal betting and online gambling networks, detaining 108 suspects in raids conducted across 35 provinces. The operation, coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and carried out by the Istanbul Police Department’s Cybercrime Unit, targeted groups accused of organizing illegal betting activities, directing users to unauthorized gambling platforms, and generating criminal income through digital channels.

The operation stood out for its use of artificial intelligence-supported analysis tools. According to information shared by officials, investigators used advanced digital intelligence methods to identify suspects, map their online activities, and determine their physical addresses before launching simultaneous raids. The case highlights Turkey’s growing focus on cyber-enabled financial crimes and the increasingly digital structure of illegal betting networks.

AI-Backed AVCI System Played A Key Role

A major element of the investigation was the use of AVCI, an AI-supported open-source intelligence analysis system developed by Istanbul police. The system was used to examine approximately 600,000 messages collected from various digital groups linked to illegal betting and online gambling activity.

Through this analysis, investigators identified suspect profiles, communication patterns, addresses, and alleged roles within the broader network. The use of AVCI allowed law enforcement teams to process a large volume of digital data more quickly and connect online activity with real-world individuals and locations.

The available information indicates that the artificial intelligence component was used by law enforcement as an investigative and analytical tool. There is no confirmed indication that the betting network itself operated an AI-based gambling system. In other words, the phrase AI-backed operation refers to the police investigation, not necessarily to the technology used by the suspects.

Raids Were Carried Out Across 35 Provinces

Following the digital analysis, police teams launched simultaneous raids in Istanbul and 34 other provinces. During the searches, 108 suspects were taken into custody and transferred to police facilities for questioning.

Authorities also seized a large number of digital materials believed to have been used in the illegal betting and gambling activities. These materials are expected to be examined as part of the ongoing investigation into how the network operated, how users were directed to illegal platforms, and how money was moved through digital channels.

The investigation is being conducted under Turkey’s legal framework against unauthorized betting and gambling activities. Officials say the suspects are accused of involvement in illegal betting operations, online gambling facilitation, user redirection, and financial mediation linked to criminal proceeds.

5,151 URLs Were Blocked

In addition to the detentions, authorities also moved against the digital infrastructure of the network. A total of 5,151 internet addresses were blocked as part of the operation.

According to the reported breakdown, 5,000 URLs were linked directly to illegal online betting and gambling activities. Another 111 addresses were identified as promotional or referral pages that directed users to such platforms, while 40 addresses were allegedly used to facilitate payment transactions.

This part of the operation is significant because it shows that authorities did not focus only on individual suspects. They also targeted the broader ecosystem that supports illegal betting online, including advertising networks, redirection pages, and payment-related digital channels. By blocking thousands of URLs, officials aimed to disrupt both user access and the technical structure behind the illegal gambling activity.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek Announced The Operation

Turkey’s Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced details of the operation, saying it was carried out under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against networks that allegedly organized illegal betting and gambling and generated criminal income through these activities.

Gürlek stated that AI-supported programs were used in the investigation and that operations were conducted across 35 provinces. He confirmed that 108 suspects were detained and that 5,151 websites involved in facilitating the alleged crimes were blocked.

In his statement, Gürlek said another “dirty network in the virtual world” had been dismantled. He also emphasized that state institutions would continue coordinated efforts to protect public order, families, and young people from the risks linked to illegal betting, gambling, and digital crime.

İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığımızın koordinesinde; yasa dışı bahis ve kumar oynatan ve bu yolla suç geliri elde eden şebekelere karşı yapay zekâ destekli programlar kullanılarak İstanbul merkezli 35 ilimizde kapsamlı bir operasyon gerçekleştirilmiştir.

Operasyon kapsamında 108…

— Akın Gürlek (@abakingurlek) May 12, 2026

Operation Highlights Turkey’s Digital Crime Strategy

The operation reflects a wider shift in law enforcement methods against online betting and cyber-enabled gambling networks. Illegal betting groups increasingly rely on encrypted communication channels, social media promotion, referral links, digital payment systems, and constantly changing web addresses to reach users and avoid detection.

By using AI-supported open-source intelligence, Turkish authorities appear to be moving toward a more data-driven model of investigation. Instead of focusing only on visible websites, investigators analyzed communication networks, user redirection systems, and payment-related digital structures.

The scale of the latest operation also shows how illegal betting investigations are no longer limited to one city or a small group of suspects. With raids in 35 provinces, hundreds of thousands of messages reviewed, and thousands of URLs blocked, the case points to a highly distributed digital network.

Officials say investigations into illegal betting and online gambling structures will continue. The current case is expected to proceed with the examination of seized digital materials and the questioning of detained suspects.