Turkey makes MASAK gatekeeper of financial transactions

Summary

Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) has been granted sweeping new powers to verify and supervise financial transactions to prevent the proceeds of crime. The Ministry of Treasury and Finance confirmed the changes in the Official Gazette; the new compliance obligations take effect from 1 February 2026.

Under the amended General Communiqué, MASAK can now mandate identity-verification processes for online transactions and enforce stricter anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing controls. The reforms cover gambling and betting, e-commerce, fintech and payments, insurance and pensions. Banks and payment providers must confirm that payments originate from accounts matching the customer’s identity before processing transactions.

The framework funnels verified gambling transactions to Turkey’s state-authorised operators (İddaa, Milli Piyango, Türkiye Jokey Kulübü) and embeds identity checks into onboarding, aiming to disrupt mule accounts, falsified identities and criminal syndicates. MASAK will lead a government Action Plan on illicit gambling, coordinating with the Ministry of Justice, which has expanded prosecutors’ powers to seize and suspend assets tied to illegal betting.

Key Points

MASAK authorised to supervise and mandate identity verification for online transactions from 1 February 2026.
Obligated sectors include gambling/betting, e-commerce, fintech/payments, insurance and pensions.
Banks must ensure payments come from accounts matching customer identity; transactions cannot proceed until verification is complete.
Verified gambling payments will be channelled to state-authorised operators only, to prevent misuse of payment rails.
Ministry of Justice reforms give prosecutors broader powers to seize and suspend assets linked to illegal betting.
Policy is part of President Erdoğan’s wider pledge to eradicate illegal gambling ahead of national elections and includes action against foreign operators targeting Turkish citizens.

Context and Relevance

This change marks a significant tightening of Turkey’s AML/CTF regime with direct operational impacts for any business touching Turkish customers or payment flows. Payment service providers, banks, gambling operators, affiliates and international suppliers must reassess onboarding, KYC and transaction-monitoring processes to avoid disruption or enforcement action.

The move reflects broader global trends of stricter identity-driven controls on digital payments and gambling, but Turkey’s approach is notable for its explicit channeling of gambling funds to state operators and for MA SAK’s centralised gatekeeper role — effectively embedding the regulator into everyday payment operations.

Why should I read this?

Short version: if you take payments from Turkish customers, work with Turkish players or route funds through Turkey, this is a proper headache — and a compliance must. It changes who can process gambling payments and forces stricter KYC before any transaction goes through. Read it so you don’t get caught off guard.