Turkish Journalist Mengü Warns Betting Monopoly Is Driving Social Breakdown

Turkish journalist Nevşin Mengü has sharply criticized Turkey’s current betting monopoly, arguing that it is exacerbating social harm rather than preventing illegal gambling. Speaking on her latest YouTube broadcast, Mengü said the country’s betting and gambling problem—reportedly acknowledged even by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as requiring urgent action—has reached a level of social devastation and demands structural reform.

Citing recent public opinion surveys, Mengü noted that after economic hardship and perceived injustice, drugs, gambling, and betting rank as the third most serious problem facing society. She stressed that this long-standing issue cannot be solved through outright bans, warning that prohibition has repeatedly failed to curb demand. Instead, she targeted the monopolistic structure of the legal betting system as a core driver of the problem.

Core Argument: Break the Monopoly, Strengthen Oversight

According to Mengü, concentrating betting under a monopoly has not eliminated illegal platforms; on the contrary, it has pushed the market further underground. She added that this structure has fueled public speculation that the system serves to reward certain business interests close to political power, rather than to protect consumers.

Presenting her solution succinctly, Mengü said:

“Open competition, then regulate it properly. Set clear criteria. The EU already has standards—regulate according to those.”

She argued that dismantling the monopoly and introducing competitive licensing under strict EU-level standards would allow authorities to exercise real oversight. As long as the monopoly remains in place, she warned, illegal betting sites will continue to proliferate.

“We Are Hearing About Suicides”

Mengü also underlined the human cost of gambling addiction, highlighting cases of suicide linked to betting debts. She said that within the past month alone, reports emerged of three to four individuals who took their own lives due to gambling-related financial pressure.

“These are not abstract numbers,” Mengü emphasized, describing the situation as a major social collapse that requires immediate intervention rather than incremental adjustments.

Industry Implications

Mengü’s remarks have reignited debate over Turkey’s betting framework at a time when authorities are intensifying crackdowns on illegal operators. Her comments resonate with a growing segment of the public—and parts of the industry—that argue competition combined with robust regulation, rather than monopolization, is the only sustainable path to reducing illegal betting, protecting players, and addressing addiction-related harm.

For iGaming stakeholders, the debate underscores a critical question: whether Turkey will continue with a tightly controlled monopoly model or move toward a regulated, competitive market aligned with European best practices.