Pop Star from Turkey Convicted in Connection with Gambling Advertisement Scandal
In a recent development, Turkish pop singer Serdar Ortaç has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for promoting illegal gambling, although the sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation instead. This case is part of a broader crackdown on illegal gambling promotion in Turkey, as the country's authorities continue to take a firm stance against such activities.
The court's decision comes following allegations that Ortaç, during one of his performances, had gambling advertisements projected behind him. However, Ortaç denied any involvement in promoting illegal gambling, claiming he was unaware of the images shown during his set. Authorities, however, allege that Ortaç turned towards the screen during his performance, making it unlikely he was unaware of the images.
Ortaç was not the only one to face the wrath of the law. DJ and influencer Kerimcan Durmaz was also recently released from jail after being accused of promoting gambling. Durmaz argued that his words had been taken out of context during the investigation.
Turkey's gambling laws only allow state-approved organizations to operate, and authorities have been targeting public figures involved in such activities. In fact, as part of Operation CYBERAĞ-13, a four-month-long investigation led by Turkey's cybercrime unit, 27 people were arrested for encouraging illegal betting. The details of this operation, however, are not entirely clear.
The crackdown on illegal gambling promotion in Turkey is not a new phenomenon. Last October, Yesilay, a Turkish organization, reported an important rise in the number of online gambling addicts at its counseling centers, many of which involved children.
In a separate incident, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 233,000 illegal gaming sites were blocked in 2024 as part of the ongoing efforts to curb online gambling activities.
As the fight against illegal gambling continues, it is crucial to stay informed about the latest developments in this area. Keeping up with official Turkish government announcements and reliable news sources will provide valuable insights into the ongoing efforts to combat this issue.
- The sentence suspended for Turkish pop singer Serdar Ortaç, who was involved in a gambling promotion case, is part of a broader movement in the country's general-news sector focusing on crackdowns on such activities, even extending to online gambling.
- The latest addition to this list is DJ and influencer Kerimcan Durmaz, who, like Ortaç, faced charges for promoting gambling, raising questions about the potential misuse of an individual's words in crime-and-justice cases.
- As unauthorized gambling is considered a serious crime in Turkey, with the authorities aggressively pursuing public figures involved, the recent blocking of 233,000 illegal gaming sites (as announced by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya) underlines the significance of this issue in the entertainment industry and the need to stay informed about current developments related to crime-and-justice and general-news.
