International vs State-Owned Sports Betting Sites
Turkey, a country where Eastern and Western cultures collide. Despite being a secular state with more than 85 million inhabitants, most of the citizens are Sunni Muslims who have deep-rooted religious beliefs. In addition, because it is a religion that frowns on gambling, there has been an imposition of harsh restrictions by the government to control betting activities. Betting on sports is still possible in Turkey, albeit under limited circumstances.
It will be remembered that in 2007 all forms of online gambling were declared illegal by the Turkish government with the exception of IDDAA, which is a state-owned sports betting company. In Turkey, however, many betting companies defied government warnings and kept their doors open for customers. Nonetheless, the situation changed after new laws were passed in 2017, making these rebels run away scaredly. Nevertheless a couple of online bookies still accept clients from or situated in Turkey.
Why, however, do a great many of Turkish nationals select these international sites to places bets on as opposed to the legitimate government-owned IDDAA? The best Turkish betting websites offer due to heightened competition:
- Bigger sign up bonuses and free bets
- Better odds on a wide range of sports
- A wide variety of in-play betting markets
Is that okay with you? Participate in any of the websites we suggest on this page and enjoy these benefits.
How to Deposit at Sports Betting Sites in Turkey
In Turkey, where the government has publicly made a commitment to pursuing and punishing those who choose to bet online with illegal betting operators, Turkish sportsbooks that accept bank transfers or debit/credit card payments may be taking a very big risk.
In order for the authorities to monitor and prevent payments to or from foreign gambling sites, the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) has been given more powers. Some steps have also been taken towards restricting payment via digital currencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), thus leaving e-wallets as well as prepaid cards as the only way that one can securely make a deposit at Turkish bookmakers.
Not every betting site in Turkey allows players to withdraw money using paysafecard, although this is another option for prepaid vouchers.
The History of Sports Betting in Turkey
In 1983, Turkey legalized casino gambling on the mainland. However, the live gaming zones of such casinos were restricted to non-Turkish individuals in order to attract tourists and their money. The law was different in 1995 as Turkish could now play at the tables of fortune.
It was then, just within two years, that the Islamic Welfare party, having won the elections, passed a law to shut down all seventy eight national casinos. Although this new legislation claims that money laundering and other illegal activities are its reasons or cause, it is universally believed to be motivated by religious and moral principles.
One by one, the Turkish government effected numerous provisions that led to a decrease in gambling. This finally resulted in the banning of all internet betting with an exception of state-run IDDAA sports bookmakers.
To start with, the Turkish government’s threats were insufficient to keep some main international bookmakers from accepting Turkish citizens. One such company was Betsson; a Swedish publicly listed firm which had no qualms at all about the risks that might accompany its actions, especially considering that Turkey constituted over 26% of their sales volume and therefore was an area of great profit.
Despite this, in the summer of 2013, some laws were introduced to the Turkish parliament with plans to impose fines of up to £180,000 on players who used illegal betting websites. Other companies without licenses that processed payments, banks and advertising agencies also faced similar penalties as well as imprisonment terms for aiding or promoting unlawful internet acts in the proposed regulations. Consequently, European bookmakers appeared to reverse their stance about Turkey; several of them pulled out of the market completely.
In Turkey, 2017 saw the government go a step further in its bid to clamp down on non-licensed online gambling sites. These measures include modifying the existing laws, introducing more blocking methods and creating awareness of gambling addiction. In addition, Turkish Banking Supervision Body (BDDK) announced some new control mechanisms aimed at restricting money from flowing to uninsured betting websites that are based in Turkey.
What Does the Future Hold for Turkish Bettors?
Little fear is felt by citizens in many countries due to strict regulations. However, there is a bigger risk associated with online betting in Turkey since the government of this country does not tolerate it at all. In practice, the Turkish authorities have shown a lot of determination in enforcing this law which has discouraged most major international gambling companies from operating in Turkey.
It seems sad, but you can bet legally through IDDAA which is a state owned betting site. However, if you need bigger bonuses and better odds, you may want to try your luck with Turkish bookmakers featured on this page for sports betting.
What betting sites can I use in Turkey? It is possible to legally gamble in Turkey online through IDDAA, which is state-owned. Nonetheless, a lot of people think that the best betting sites for Turkish players are those that come from abroad and do not have any presence within the country. Significantly, they also provide better initial deposit bonuses and free bet offers, as well as higher odds and more markets.
What betting apps work in Turkey? In spite of scarce options, Turkey’s best online betting applications are available in the bookies listed on this page. All the aforementioned websites have lightning-fast and easy-to-use Android and iOS platforms. These apps, built with low space consumption in mind, allow for a quick bet placement through just a few taps.
How can I deposit at Turkish betting sites? Spor bahisleri sitelerine para yatırmak zor olabilir çünkü Türk hükümeti Bankacılık Düzenleme ve Denetleme Kurumu’na (BDDK) uluslararası bahis sitelerine yönelik işlemleri bloke etmesi talimatını verdi. WebMoney, ecoPayz ve Jeton gibi popüler e-cüzdanları kullanmanızı öneriyoruz.
Q.Is the Turkish lira accepted at betting sites? A. Unfortunately, there are very few sports betting websites that take Turkish lira (TRY). The few cases where they do always have a considerable following among Turkish bettors since betting in the national currency of Turkey allows you to avoid paying exorbitant exchange rates. If the lira isn’t accepted, choose Euros as your preferred currency.