Turkish police have detained eight suspects as part of an illegal betting investigation based in İstanbul, seizing Diyarbekirspor, a professional football club in southeastern Turkey, and three companies over allegations that criminal proceeds were laundered through sports clubs, the DHA news agency reported.
The operation was carried out by the İstanbul Police Department’s Cybercrime Unit under the coordination of the İstanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, based on a report prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).
According to a statement from the prosecutor’s office, a former chairman and executives of a football club, namely the Tuzlaspor — a club that changed its name to the Beykoz 1908 Sports Club in 2024 — were identified as the owners of an illegal online betting site. Prosecutors claim that proceeds generated through the site were laundered through certain sports clubs.
According to the findings, revenue from the illegal betting operation were transferred into club accounts via the bank accounts of the club’s accountant and certain employees.
As part of the investigation prosecutors determined that Diyarbekirspor “facilitated illegal betting activities,” which prompted them to order the seizure of the club along with three companies, six vehicles, three motorcycles, seven apartments, six plots of land and one workplace. Numerous digital materials were also confiscated during searches in simultaneous raids.
The raids were conducted on Tuesday in İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Hatay and Diyarbakır and resulted in the detention of eight suspects.
The investigation is ongoing.
Diyarbekirspor, founded in 1977 in Diyarbakır, competes in Turkey’s 3rd League as of the 2025–2026 season and is currently ranked 11th with 25 points. The club was relegated from the 2nd League at the end of the 2024–2025 season. Diyarbekirspor is a separate club from Diyarbakırspor.
In a relevant development last month, an İstanbul court ordered the seizure of top-division football club Eyüpspor and eight companies linked to its jailed president as part of an investigation into illegal betting and suspected money laundering.
The trusteeship was assigned to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), a state body that takes over companies under court orders.
The latest operations come amid a broader crackdown on illegal gambling networks in Turkey, as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle online betting operations and their financial backbones.
In recent months prosecutors have targeted payment platforms, electronic money companies and cryptocurrency channels accused of facilitating illegal betting transactions, while regulators have moved to suspend or revoke the licenses of companies linked to money laundering.
Gambling remains tightly restricted in Turkey. Casinos were banned in 1998, and non-state online gambling was outlawed in 2006, though state-run lottery and betting services remain legal.
Turkish authorities say such activities fuel addiction and drain billions of lira from the economy.