Göztepe and Zynga Sponsorship Deal Ends Before It Even Reached the Pitch

At the beginning of 2025, Göztepe Sports Club signed a major sponsorship agreement with global gaming giant Zynga. Under the deal, Zynga’s popular title 101 Okey Plus was set to appear on Göztepe’s kits as the club’s main sponsor for the 2025–2026 season. The launch event at Gürsel Aksel Stadium featured Göztepe CEO Kerem Ertan and Zynga Turkey General Manager Buğra Koç, both highlighting the significance of the partnership.

However, the collaboration ended before it ever reached the field. Shortly before the start of the season, it was announced that the agreement had been mutually terminated. As a result, the 101 Okey Plus logo never appeared on Göztepe’s jerseys in an official match.

101 Okey Plus: Not Gambling, But “Encouraging Spending” Debate

While no official reason was provided for the cancellation, club sources and industry commentators have pointed to the game’s structure and sponsorship preferences as possible factors. Although 101 Okey Plus does not fall under the legal definition of gambling, its freemium model — encouraging players to spend money on in-app purchases — may have raised concerns in terms of football sponsorship standards.

This meant Göztepe missed out on the chance to appear with a Zynga brand on the pitch for the first time in its history.

How the Freemium Model Works in 101 Okey Plus

Zynga’s 101 Okey Plus is not a paid game. It can be downloaded for free from Google Play and the App Store.

• The game is a digital version of traditional 101 Okey.
• There is no way to win or lose real money. The tiles are entirely virtual, and players use in-game tokens or credits to play.
• When tokens run out, users must either wait to continue playing or purchase additional tokens through in-app purchases.

👉 In short, it’s a typical freemium app: downloading is free, but players have the option to spend real money to keep playing or unlock extra features.

Is It Similar to Gambling?

The game itself is not gambling, since it does not involve real-money prizes.

However, some experts argue that the psychological dynamics of constantly nudging users to spend money on virtual tokens resemble certain aspects of gambling behavior.

What Does the Cancellation Mean?

The termination highlights that Turkish sports clubs must weigh not only the financial side of sponsorship deals, but also the reputational and regulatory risks. Sponsorship offers from sectors like mobile gaming, crypto, and fintech are now likely to face closer scrutiny before making it onto team jerseys.