Turkey blocks over 100 gambling websites

Turkey has blocked access to 110 illegal gambling websites over the last five years, according to an annual report released by the country´s telecommunications authority on Monday. 

The National Lottery and Turkey’s telecommunications authority, or TIB, have joined forces to combat online betting and gambling through a long campaign to service throughout the country.

The National Lottery, which demanded action against 440 websites over the five-year period, demanded the telecom directorate close 93 websites in 2009, 119 websites in 2010, 110 websites in 2011, 88 websites in 2012 and 30 websites in 2013.

The TIB blocked internet access to 110 websites on the grounds that the pages were providing online gambling services.

Physical gambling premises (casinos and gaming houses) were closed down in 1997 in Turkey, but many of their services have been transferred to the online world.

The telecommunications body has had the authority to block access to online gambling and illegal betting sites in November 2000.

Technological developments have opened up access to illegal betting sites, increasing concerns about gambling addiction and betting among underage people. 

The Turkish government passed laws expressly outlawing gambling in 2007. 

The legislation was a move to prevent young people from gambling amid increasing cases of addiction, coupled with an intent to protect state revenues.