The Directorate of Communications held a panel titled “Say No to Addiction! Combating Illegal Betting and Gambling Addiction."
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran delivered the opening remarks at the panel.
Moderated by Prof. Merih Altıntaş, Member of the Scientific Board of the Turkish Green Crescent Society, the single-session panel featured President of the Council of Higher Education Prof. Erol Özvar, President of the Radio and Television Supreme Council Mehmet Daniş, Deputy Minister of Interior Ali Çelik, Head of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board Hasan Kaymak, and President of the Turkish Green Crescent Society Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Dinç as speakers.
Speaking at the panel, President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar stressed the need to combat illegal betting and gambling addiction with due sensitivity. Emphasising that this was not an issue that could be deferred, left to periodic campaigns, or entrusted to the responsibility of a single institution, Özvar said: “This is an area in which all stakeholders—from families and schools to universities and public institutions, from the media and digital platforms to civil society organisations and local authorities—must assume a shared responsibility.”
Özvar noted that adopting a determined, scientific, inclusive and collaborative approach to combating illegal betting and gambling addiction would make a significant contribution to social well-being. He said:
“Our young people, our country’s most precious treasure and its future, should live their lives not under the shadow of addiction, but in the light of knowledge, education, sports, culture, the arts and productive endeavour. Their health, well-being and success are of vital importance to the future of our country. The Smoke-Free Campus and Sports-Friendly Campus initiatives provide guidance in the fight against addiction. We must turn our campuses into centres of science, sports, the arts and a vibrant social life. Guiding young people towards meaningful goals will help reduce the risk of addiction."
President of the Radio and Television Supreme Council Mehmet Daniş drew attention to the multidimensional nature of gambling addiction. Noting that the Radio and Television Supreme Council was also part of the efforts to combat the problem, Daniş said: “With the rapid growth of digital broadcasting and online media, the increasing presence of mobile phones and tablets in children’s lives poses a serious threat. In the past, there may have been more complaints about television screens, whereas today, even sitting down as a family to watch a programme together on television has almost become a luxury."
Daniş noted that, as with all forms of addiction, raising awareness was the most effective means of combating illegal betting, adding, "We cannot tolerate the normalisation of illegal betting content through the media and digital platforms, or its increased visibility through advertising and sponsorships. As the Radio and Television Supreme Council, we have so far done our part in these efforts, both within the authority vested in us by law and as part of our social and public responsibility, and I would like to state that we will do even more in the period ahead.”
Emphasising the importance of media literacy training in raising awareness among young people, Daniş said, “These are our young people; they are our future. Therefore, no excuse should deter us from combating illegal betting and digital addiction.”
Deputy Minister of Interior Ali Çelik stated that addiction has two aspects: supply and demand. Noting that the two areas are integrated with one another, Çelik said, “Both areas feed each other. An imbalance in one creates difficulties in managing the process in the other.”
Underlining that nearly 40 illegal betting gangs had been dismantled in the first eight months of this year, Çelik said, “The financial transactions carried out by these groups amount to nearly TRY 60 billion. More than 800 operations have taken place in the first eight months. While the average for the previous five years was around 250, the number has increased threefold this year.”
Mentioning reward-based games as one of the main factors behind gambling addiction, Çelik said, “If we can eliminate this sector, we will also minimise the funds flowing into the hands of the next criminal organisation.”
Hasan Kaymak, Head of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), stated that they would not allow the financial system to be exploited by criminal organisations and emphasised that they would resolutely continue the fight to prevent citizens from being drawn into these criminal networks.
Addressing the culture of making easy money, Kaymak said, “If we can explain to our young people that easy money benefits none of us, we will in fact save considerable time and labour and prevent the loss of human resources.”
Speaking about the impact of illegal betting gangs on young people, Kaymak said, “Due to the psychological and economic difficulties experienced by our young people, these criminal organisations approach them with enticing offers. Sometimes they provide a luxury phone, sometimes money, and make our young people an integral part of the process.”
President of the Turkish Green Crescent Society Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Dinç stated that gambling debt can cause people to give up their jobs, relationships, health, financial means, assets, and even their lives. Noting an increase in suicide cases among individuals addicted to gambling, Dinç spoke about the importance of the influence of friends and one’s social environment.
Dinç stated that more than 50 percent of free games published on social media are funded by the gambling industry, saying, “The gambling industry uses games, combines them with gambling, and uses them as a bridge to gambling.” Emphasising that gaming culture, which begins in childhood, paves the way to gambling, Dinç said, “Therefore, it is crucial to provide education to both children and parents from an early age.” Highlighting that combating demand is as important as combating supply, Dinç went on to say:
“In the fight against gambling, combating supply alone is not enough; combating demand alone is not enough; merely shutting down websites is not enough. This is an ecosystem: it starts with advertisements and continues through social media, sporting activities, influencers, games, mobile applications, payment systems, loans, bets, losses, debt, and continued betting.”
