Continuation of Illegitimate Gaming Suppression Leads to Arrest of 13 Individuals by Turkish Authorities
In the latest chapter of Turkey's ongoing campaign against illegal gambling, the digital payment platform Papara finds itself under the spotlight. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has outlined a case against Erkan Kork, chair of BankPozitif and digital payments firm PayFix, and others, including Papara's owner Ahmed Faruk Karsli.
According to the authorities, Papara has been a significant tool for financial illegal betting and gambling crimes. The specific nature of the illegal gambling activities that Papara is accused of supporting has not been specified. However, it is alleged that the platform has facilitated payment transactions to unregulated gambling sites and may have had an understanding with illegal betting organizations to process payments.
This case involves charges of membership in a criminal organization, money laundering, and violations of Turkey's gambling laws. As of July 2025, there are no specific publicly available reports detailing individual charges or the current investigative status against Papara or Erkan Kork.
The authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal online gambling, which constitutes about 95% of illegal betting transactions, according to a July 2025 MASAK report. The government has also strengthened crypto regulations to curb illegal gambling and money laundering, imposing stricter compliance requirements on platforms. Non-compliant platforms risk operational license revocation and fines, signaling increased regulatory vigilance over any financial entities facilitating underground betting activities.
While similar enforcement actions have been documented in other countries, there is no direct evidence that Papara or Erkan Kork are currently subject to charges or investigation in this context. Turkish authorities continue to block unauthorized crypto services linked with illicit activities, including illegal gambling, but specific mentions of Papara or its founder do not appear in these reports.
This is the latest development in the ongoing crackdown on the illegal gambling sector in Turkey, with the authorities focusing on payment providers. No information has been provided about the potential penalties or consequences for Erkan Kork, Ahmed Faruk Karsli, and the others involved in the case. Should there be any new developments, they would likely emerge through official government releases or credible news updates referencing Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board or related regulatory bodies.
[1] MASAK Report, July 2025 [2] Turkish Government Regulations, July 2025 [3] South Korean Enforcement Actions, Unspecified Date [4] Turkish Crypto Wallet Blocks, Unspecified Date
- In the realm of casino-and-gambling, the latest investigation focuses on the digital platform Papara, accused of supporting illegal gambling activities, with specific charges including membership in a criminal organization, money laundering, and violations of Turkey's gambling laws.
- Casino-games operate within a trend of increased regulatory scrutiny, as illustrated by the ongoing crackdown on unregulated online gambling, such as the case involving Papara, which constitutes a significant portion of illegal betting transactions.
- General-news outlets continuously report on the actions against casino-personalities, such as Erkan Kork, chair of BankPozitif and digital payments firm PayFix, who currently faces charges in connection with illegal gambling and crime-and-justice issues involving Papara.
