Prof. Dr. Vahit Bıçak, Founder and Chairman of Bıçak Law Firm, has contributed legal expertise to an international investigative report published by the Cyprus Investigative Reporting Network (CIReN) on 16 October 2026, examining offshore-licensed online betting and gambling operations targeting Turkish-speaking markets.

The investigation, titled “Leaked Curaçao Documents Reveal Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Behind Banned Betting and Gambling Sites”, draws on documents associated with the international #CasinoSecrets project. According to CIReN’s findings, the investigation examined licensing and corporate records involving four Curaçao-registered companies associated with 19 online betting and gambling brands, 17 of which were reportedly listed among websites blocked by Turkish authorities.

Foreign Gambling Licences and Turkish Law

As part of the investigation, CIReN sought Prof. Dr. Bıçak’s legal assessment of the regulatory framework governing online betting and gambling in Türkiye. Prof. Dr. Bıçak explained that a gambling licence issued by a foreign jurisdiction does not automatically authorise its holder to provide betting services in Türkiye. Under Turkish law, sports betting activities are subject to a specific statutory authorisation regime, principally governed by Law No. 7258. Other forms of online gambling may engage separate criminal law provisions, including Article 228 of the Turkish Penal Code. Accordingly, the legal status of an offshore gambling operator must be assessed under the applicable Turkish legislation, irrespective of whether the operator holds a licence elsewhere.

The Limits of Website Blocking

The investigation also examined Türkiye’s measures against unauthorised offshore betting platforms. Prof. Dr. Bıçak highlighted that blocking access to unlawful gambling websites is an important enforcement mechanism but cannot, by itself, eliminate the underlying activities. Effective enforcement also requires investigation of the individuals and organisations involved, their corporate structures, payment channels and potentially unlawful proceeds.

International Investigative Journalism and Legal Expertise

CIReN’s report illustrates the growing significance of cross-border cooperation, financial transparency and regulatory enforcement in addressing offshore gambling operations. Bıçak Law Firm’s contribution was limited to an independent assessment of the applicable Turkish legal framework. The firm did not investigate or independently verify the leaked corporate records and has not expressed any conclusion regarding the criminal liability of the individuals or companies identified in the report. The contribution reflects Bıçak Law Firm’s continuing work in criminal law, white-collar crime, anti-money laundering, regulatory compliance and cross-border legal matters.

Read the original CIReN investigation:

Leaked Curaçao Documents Reveal Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Behind Banned Betting and Gambling Sites

Source: Cyprus Investigative Reporting Network (CIReN), investigation by Turgut Denizgil, published 16 October 2026.