Turkey Online Casinos

Turkey Online Casinos: Best Picks for 2022

Turkey is one of the most interesting territories in the world. This country is a mix of both traditional and modernity, and a lot of things go on here.

Although Turkey is home to one of the largest Muslim communities, it is a surprise that this nation is not quite considered an Islamic state, as is the case with other countries like it.

If anything, the Turkish government is secular in all its areas of administration, and a lot of locals here run their lives with inspiration from both modern and cultural traditions.

This unique mix of both Muslim values and the traditional secular backgrounds give gambling different values.

In the recent past, there has been a lot of changes that have happened in casino gaming. Although this balance alternates, there is little that can bar people from engaging in gaming, either online or on land-based establishments.

Many online casinos accept players from this part of the world, and among the top-rated ones include:

MELBET CASINO

A great online casino, Melbet is home to some good bonuses and promotions. As part of the welcome bonus, the casino gives players up to €1750 + 290 Free Spins.

On the games catalogue, you will find titles from some of the most reputable game developers that include 1x2 Gaming, Ainsworth, Amatic, Aristocrat, Ash Gaming, Bally, Betsoft, BF Games, BGaming, Big Time Gaming, Blueprint, Booming Games, Booongo, EGT, ELK, Endorphina, Evoplay, Foxium, GameArt, Gamomat, Genesis Gaming, Habanero, IGT, Iron Dog, iSoftBet, Kalamba, Lightning Box, Merkur, Microgaming, MrSlotty, NetEnt, Nextgen Gaming, Nolimit City, Novomatic, PariPlay, Play n GO, Playson, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Push Gaming, Quickspin, Rabcat, Real Time Gaming, Red Rake, Red Tiger, ReelPlay, Relax Gaming, Rival, Stakelogic, Thunderkick, Tom Horn, Wazdan, WMS, Yggdrasil, and WGS.

ROKU CASINO

Another great online casino is Roku, and with it, players get to enjoy lots of freebies that include a welcome bonus of up to 100% match up bonus capped at €300. This is accompanied by 100 Free Spins.

Slots are among the games that you will find here, they are provided by some of the biggest names in this industry. Thes developers present on Roku casino include 1x2 Gaming, Betsoft, Booming Games, Booongo, EGT, Endorphina, GameArt, Gammomat, Habanero, iSoftBet, Microgaming, NetEnt, Nolimit City, Novomatic, Play n GO, Playson, Pragmatic Play, Push Gaming, Quickspin, Red Rake, Tom Horn, and Yggdrasil.

FASTPAY CASINO

Here, it is all about bonuses, and as much as 100% matchup is available as part of the welcome package. This is capped at 100 EUR, and players will also receive a total of 100 Free Spins.

Top providers whose games are present on this casino include Amatic, Betsoft, BGaming, Big Time Gaming, Blueprint, Booming Games, Booongo, EGT, ELK, Endorphina, GameArt, Habanero, IGT, iSoftBet, Merkur, Microgaming, NetEnt, Nolimit City, Play n GO, Playson, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Push Gaming, Quickspin, Red Tiger, Relax Gaming, Thunderkick, Tom Horn, Wazdan, and Yggdrasil.

CASINO ROOM

Bonus offers here include a 100% match up bonus capped at €1,000 plus as many as 100 Free Spins.

When it comes to game selection, players have the opportunity to work with developers like Aristocrat, Betsoft, ELK, Microgaming, NetEnt, Nextgen Gaming, Play n GO, Red Tiger, Thunderkick, and Yggdrasil.

The Dominance of State-Owned Online Casinos

Under the current laws, all form of online and land-based gaming is treated equally. In short, all legal gaming activities are heavily regulated by the government.

As a matter of fact, no form of online gambling is allowed in this country, and the only exception is state-owned IDDAA. This is the only body that is allowed to provide any form of sports betting in Turkey.

Although this is great news to players who like betting on sports, it is not so good news to online casino gamers.

The Turkish government has been clear on the fact that they have no interest in allowing foreign operators into this market.

In 2006, the state introduced a law that prohibited any form of activities on casino games in Turkey.

To further curtail these activities, the government has gone ahead to introduce stricter laws like those common in the United States. This means that it is illegal for any bank in Turkey to authorize any form of payments to or from a gaming site.

However, even with all these tough measures, a lot of underground gaming activities take place in Turkey, especially from offshore operators.

Since there are no clear regulatory frameworks that the government has put in place regarding these offshore casinos, many of such sites allow Turkish punters to join their platform and play for real money.

Occasionally, the Turkish government has made crackdowns in a bid to discourage citizens from joining these international online casinos, but these have not borne much fruit.

If you are planning to start an online gambling journey on sites that accept Turkish players, here are a few things that you must consider;

Online Casino Payment Methods

This is particularly important for real money gamblers, and payment methods on online casinos vary. It is important that you consider what works for you before you can settle on the casino.

Availability of convenient methods of payment will make the process much easier for you. Although debit and credit card payments are the two most popular methods, online casinos offer other options that are equally good.

Bank transfer was allowed, but with the new rules targeting banks that allow such transactions, it is no longer possible to make a bank transfer as a player based in Turkey.

Besides the cards, other options available for Turkish players include:

• Cryptocurrencies

Turkey is known for its massive use of cryptocurrency payments in Europe. This is also common among online gamblers in this country.

The government of Turkey does not consider Bitcoin and other types of cryptocurrency as legal money.

This is where online gamblers thrive since many online casinos accept these forms of payment.

• Ecopayz

Ecopayz is also quite popular in online casinos that accept Turkish players. It is a form of e-Wallet and with it, players can remain anonymous. This way, they can cover their gambling tracks and avoid being discovered.

Other types of e-Wallets like Skrill can be used as well, but in many cases, users may have to forego the casino bonuses.

Software Developers and Games Portfolio

Since many reputable game providers are willing to supply their games to Turkey, there is no shortage of games on these casinos.

The best online casinos should be able to provide you with games from top developers like:

Microgaming –this is probably the game provider in the world. Microgaming offers a wide selection of games that include some popular slots. Among them are titles like Game of Thrones and Mega Moolah.

NetEnt –this is another popular game developer, and it is known for excellent mechanics when it comes to slot machines. Some great titles from NetEnt are Gonzo’s Quest and the popular Starburst. The developer also has several progressive jackpots to their name, including Mega Fortune.  

Playtech –Online gamers in Turkey can also enjoy many top-rated titles from Playtech. From Live casino games to progressive jackpot slots like the Age of the Gods series, this provider has it all.

BetSoft –this is the best developer for fun and playful games. Players who love exciting graphics will be satisfied to play games like Birds and Greedy Goblins.

Barcrest – Although Barcrest has a long list of entertaining games that are suitable for Turkey online casino gamers, Rainbow Riches is a series that highly stands. In fact, this is the most successful series from this developer to date, and one that never goes out of fashion.

Scientific Games and their Partnership with National Sports Betting Services

After realising just how difficult it is to regulate this market, the Turkish government decided to play along, and they went into a partnership with one of the top games developers.

This was none other than Scientific Games, and since 2019, Scientific Gaming has also been the official partner for the Turkish National Lottery.

This partnership saw Scientific Games acquire two lucrative contracts in Turkey. One is to provide online games to the country, and the other one is a collaboration with the Turkish National Lottery.

The Birth of State-Operated Casinos in Turkey

Gambling in Turkey has had its highs and lows, and over the years, the government has had a tense relationship with this industry.

In 1990, the country warmed up to the idea of casinos, and they started giving out a few licenses. This ended up creating more than 20,000 jobs.

However, all was not rosy, and a lot of cracks started to emerge. Of particular concern were money laundering and corruption that quickly took over the industry.

These two vices pushed the Turkish government into considering restrictions to this industry in an effort to tame all the bad things that were quickly becoming synonymous with casinos.

In July 1996, Omer Lutfu Topal, popularly known as the “casino king,” was assassinated under unclear circumstances. This was like the last straw on the camel’s back, and come September of the same year, a lot of things had changed in this industry.

By now, all licensed casinos were required to open for only eight hours per day. Also, any winnings could only be paid using cheques which was an effort by the government to tame the growing money laundering scheme.

The new reforms were not well-accepted by casino owners, and for months, they tried to negotiate with the government with the hope that the new regulations would be reversed as they were affecting their business.

However, to the surprise of many, the government decided to close down all casinos for good.

Casino owners put on a spirited fight and for close to one year they remained in operations as they battled it out in court with the government.

However, come February 1998, the courts sided with the Turkish government and all resorts were closed.

To date, all form of lawful gambling in Turkey is heavily controlled by the government, and only state-owned firms run them.

Anti-Gambling Sentiment and Islamic Ruling

Considering the current social and political temperature in this country, it is quite unlikely that Turkey will consider expanding this industry any time soon.

Currently, the government is firmly held by Islamists and considering that Sharia law considers betting a social ill, it may take many years before Turkey can finally allow gambling in its territory.

However, with the many measures that have been put in place to eliminate betting, there is still a lot of gambling that is being done underground.

After police raids on unlawful gaming card rooms, a majority of these establishments are shut down but they always emerge with new names.

Conclusion

A lot of challenges mar online gambling in Turkey but players still get an opportunity to enjoy their favourite games and even make a profit while playing real money games.

Even with the state-owned site, the underground online gaming industry continues to thrive, and it doesn’t look like it is about to stop.

It seems like Turkish players will have to wait a little longer for the legal licensing of gambling. The only option now is to play on the state-owned casino or the underground gambling industry.

Turkey Casinos Online FAQs

⭐ Is online gaming allowed in Turkey?

Yes, however, there is only one legal place that you can play these games, and this is via the legal gambling site owned by the Turkey government.

⭐ Is playing online casino games in Turkey safe?

Yes, however, this also depends on the online casino. Most of these casinos are good and safe to play on, but there are a few that are not as good.

You must do your due diligence before investing real money in an online casino. A licensed casino is a good place to start

⭐ What are some of the best things to consider on a Turkey online casino?

Before investing in an online casino, ensure that the casino offers a variety of games, different payment methods, and realistic bonuses and promotions.

Data security and excellent customer service should also be present.

⭐ Can I transact on an online casino using Turkish Lira (TL)?

Since many banks in Turkey do not allow bank transfer on online casinos, the most effective methods that can use the Turkish Lira are e-wallets (Ecopayz or Skrill). Cryptocurrencies are also popular and widely accepted.