Turkish prosecutors seek to indict TV, streaming moguls over betting ads

Turkish prosecutors have sought one to three year prison sentences for TV and streaming moguls Acun Ilıcalı and Saadettin Saran over illegal betting ads aired during football matches. Investigations followed adverts for unlicensed betting sites on TV 8, EXXEN, and S SPORT.

Wednesday March 05 2025 11:55 am

Sadettin Saran (L) owns the online streaming platform S SPORT, Acun Ilıcalı (R) owns the TV network TV 8 and online platform EXXEN.

Duvar English

Turkish prosecutors on March 4 prepared an indictment seeking prison sentences of one to three years for broadcasting channel owners Acun Ilıcalı (TV 8 and EXXEN) and Saadettin Saran (S SPORT) on allegations of "illegal betting advertisements" during football matches in Istanbul.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Cyber Crimes Investigation Bureau listed Ilıcalı as a "suspect" in the indictment, according to Anadolu Agency.

In the indictment, prosecutors accused Ilıcalı and several suspects of broadcasting advertisements for unlicensed and illegal betting sites through virtual advertising techniques during matches on TV 8 and the digital platform EXXEN.

Authorities launched an investigation after the broadcast of an advertisement for an illegal betting site appeared on billboards beside the field during a Nov. 19 match between the national teams of Turkey and Montenegro.

The Cyber Crimes Investigation Bureau also prepared an indictment against Saran, the owner of sports broadcaster S SPORT, and the platform's managers.

Prosecutors accused Saran and several suspects of broadcasting advertisements for illegal betting during La Liga (Spain's first division) and Serie A (Italy's first division) matches aired on the "S SPORT" online platform operated under Saran Internet Television Broadcasting Inc.

Prosecutors requested prison sentences of one to three years and judicial fines of up to 3,000 days for suspects on charges of "encouraging people to place fixed-odds or mutual bets or games of chance on sports competitions through advertisements or other means."

Following penalties imposed by the state-owned media watchdog RTÜK, the broadcasts of both leagues were suspended.