Turkey Freezes 6,314 Bank Accounts in World Cup Final Betting Crackdown

Turkish authorities targeted the financial network behind illegal betting during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, identifying 6,314 bank accounts and ordering banks to freeze them as the match began. Judicial proceedings were also launched against 23 suspects.

Turkey carried out a coordinated operation against illegal betting, online gambling and related criminal proceeds during one of the year’s biggest sporting events.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said the investigation was conducted by the Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, working alongside the Istanbul Police Department and in coordination with the Interior Ministry.

Banks Ordered to Freeze 6,314 Accounts

Investigators identified 6,314 bank accounts allegedly used to process illegal betting transactions before the World Cup final.

Formal orders were sent simultaneously to the banks as the match kicked off, allowing the accounts to be frozen while betting-related payment activity was expected to be at its highest level.

The timing meant the authorities were targeting the payment infrastructure used to receive deposits, move funds and potentially process withdrawals during the final rather than focusing only on access to illegal betting websites.

Gürlek did not disclose how much money was held in the accounts, their total transaction volume or the number of banks involved.

Judicial Action Launched Against 23 Suspects

The investigation also uncovered 19 financial operations believed to be integrated with illegal betting platforms.

Judicial procedures were launched to apprehend 23 suspects allegedly connected to the network. The initial announcement did not confirm whether any of the suspects had already been detained.

No details were released about the identities of the betting platforms, the locations targeted or any digital equipment and financial records seized during the operation.

Akın Gürlek: Illegal Gambling Will Not Be Allowed to Operate

Gürlek said Turkey would continue its campaign against illegal betting, online gambling and the laundering of criminal proceeds under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership and in coordination with the Interior Ministry.

He thanked the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Istanbul Police Department and the public officials involved in the investigation.

The justice minister said the authorities would not allow illegal betting and online gambling networks to target young people, disrupt families or damage the country’s future.

Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın @RTErdogan’ın liderliğinde; İçişleri Bakanlığımızla eşgüdüm içerisinde yasa dışı bahis, sanal kumar ve suç gelirleriyle mücadelemizi kararlılıkla sürdürüyoruz.

Bu çerçevede İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığımız Yasa Dışı Bahis ve Spor Suçları Soruşturma…

— Akın Gürlek (@abakingurlek) July 19, 2026