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With the rise of global digitalization, Turkeyhas become an important player in the e-commerce field, and its iGaming market is also gradually emerging. This ancient country with a rich cultural heritage and diverse society has ushered in an area of great concern in the wave of digital revolution, namely iGaming.

In this researchour goal is to explore whether Turkey has the opportunity to become the next hot spot for iGaming development. By understanding the country’s policies, popular payment methods in the market, the current popularity of virtual currencies, spending power, age group proportions, popular games and preferences, etc.. Its analysis may have an impact or opportunity on the development of the Turkish iGaming market.

Turkish Economy

Turkey is a founding member of the OECD and G20 and is listed as an E7, EAGLE, and NIC country. As of 2023, Turkey's economy ranks 19th in the world by nominal GDP and 11th by purchasing power parity. According to the International Monetary Fund, Turkey is an emerging economy with a mixed upper-middle-income class. The country is one of the world's leading producers of agricultural products, textiles, automobiles, transportation equipment, construction materials, household appliances, and household appliances.

High inflation continued to be a problem in the early 2020s. The Turkish economy has made significant financial and social progress over the past two decades, including increases in employment and average income since 2000. Turkey has recently experienced a slowdown in economic growth. The economic development results from drastic changes in external and internal factors and the curtailment of government economic reforms. Environmental campaigners say the economy is overly reliant on the construction and contracting industries. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unconventional monetary policies have fueled inflation and devalued the currency in recent years.

In 2021, Turkey's per capita GDP increased by 12.85% compared with the previous year, reaching US$9,661. Turkey's gross domestic product per capita grew even more the following year. Turkey's per capita GDP will reach US$10,616 in 2022, an increase of 9.88%. However, Turkey's economic growth did not exceed 2021 due to rising interest rates or inflation that year. Still, the country has been able to rebound despite inflation and the pandemic.

Nonetheless, the Turkish economy is currently the 19th and 11th largest economy in the world in nominal and purchasing power parity terms, respectively. In terms of average annual disposable income per household in Turkey, the highest earner has an annual disposable income of US$6,244, while the lowest earner has an annual disposable income of US$1,095.

Language

The main obstacles to traveling to Turkey are language and religious issues. Although Turkish people can play the English version and the Arabic version, the official language of Turkey is Turkish, and the usage rate of English is low. Turkey ranks 79th in the proficiency index of 100 countries in the world, and the proportion of users who master English is lower than the world average. Therefore, in terms of localization, we need to focus on the development of the Turkish version.

Popular payment methods in Turkey

According to the Gaming In Turkey report, the current distribution of the main payment methods in the Turkish market is as follows: bank transfer accounts for about 36%, mobile phone operator payment, and prepaid card payment, each account for 20%. In addition, there are other payment methods, including credit cards, newsagents, point cards, and e-wallets.

Turkey is considered one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in the world, with about a quarter of online shoppers choosing to make purchases using mobile devices. Credit card payment methods, such as Visa and Mastercard, have become very popular, and more and more people are also using prepaid cards for payment. In addition, installment payments are also driving the rapid development of Turkey's e-commerce market. In fact, 80% of e-commerce transactions are paid by credit card, and 65% are paid in installments. These factors combine to promote the booming development of Turkey's e-commerce market.

PayByMe is a VISA anonymous prepaid card issued by PayByMe. When paying, you only need to enter the 13-digit PID number on the card and then enter the 6-digit SMS verification code to complete the payment. In addition, PayByMe also supports mobile phone operation fee deductions, ISP payments, and other payment methods. Payment features: no chargebacks; real-time transactions; simple operation process; no need to enter user information.

MangırKart is a prepaid card payment method. This prepaid card can be purchased in more than 82 cities in Turkey. You can purchase this card with cash at the nearest MangırKart partner store. You only need to enter the PIN code to pay online, and Paysafecard and Ukash are very similar, easy to operate, fast in transactions, and very popular in Turkey. MangırKart offers prepaid cards in four denominations: 10TL, 25TL, 50TL and 100TL. Payment features: no chargebacks; real-time transactions; simple operation process; no need to enter user information.

3pay supports mobile payment, prepaid card payment, and credit card payment. Among them, mobile payment and prepaid cards are mainly used for virtual products such as games, while credit card payment supports installment payments. PayByMe and MangırKart are mainly positioned for game payment, while 3pay can be used for payment of physical products such as e-commerce in addition to game payment. Payment features: no chargebacks; real-time transactions; simple operation process; no need to enter user information.

BKM Express is a popular local e-wallet in Turkey. It is operated by the Turkish interbank exchange BKM and is widely supported by Turkish banks. It can provide consumers with offline or online payment services. BKM Express already covers 40% of Turkey’s e-commerce market. Payment features: Supported currencies: TRY, USD, Minimum single transaction limit: None Maximum single transaction limit: 300 TRY

Troy is a bank card program founded in 2015 by the Turkish Bank Card Center. This is Turkey's only domestic card scheme. Troy provides financial services, including credit card, debit card, prepaid card issuance, and web processing.

FastPay is a mobile electronic wallet that can be used for online transactions and transferring money between mobile accounts. The e-wallet can be loaded with credit cards, bank transfers, or Turkish Gulf Bank ATMs.

CashU is an online prepaid card that also offers mobile payments in the Middle East and North Africa. There are a large number of young users in these areas, but the usage rate of credit cards is not high. Therefore, Cash U has become the most popular payment method among young Arab online gamers.

Turkish Cryptocurrency (Virtual Coin)

On August 31, 2023, cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin released the 15th edition of the “Exploring Turkey’s Cryptocurrency World” report. The report noted that the number of cryptocurrency investors among Turkish adults has increased significantly, with more than half of adults involved in cryptocurrency investments. The younger generation, in particular, dominates the entire cryptocurrency investment space.

52% of Turks invest in cryptocurrencies

The report noted that cryptocurrency investors among Turkish adults have increased significantly, with more than half of the population involved in cryptocurrency investments. Despite the current bear market, the share of cryptocurrency investors among Turkey’s population aged 18 to 60 has increased by 12% in the past 18 months, rising from 40% in November 2021 to 52% in May 2023.

Young people dominate cryptocurrency investment.

In addition, Turkey’s younger generation dominates cryptocurrency investors, with investors aged 31 to 44 accounting for the majority at 48%, followed by investors aged 18 to 30 accounting for 37% must be mentioned.

Yes,30 under of the 33% investors invested more than US$ 100,000

Turks loveBitcoin most, followed by ETH

Turkish Gambling Policy

In 2006, the Turkish government enacted an iGaming ban that made it illegal for residents to participate in iGaming activities. Additionally, the policy prohibits companies from providing iGaming services to Turkish citizens, and Turkish banks and credit card companies are prohibited from processing financial transactions related to iGaming.

But that doesn't stop Turkish gambling. According to research, approximately 7 million people between the ages of 18-50 gamble, and the most popular gambling game is sports. Additionally, gray market revenue from iGaming is said to be approximately US$11 billion. This is due to the increased demand for sports betting online.

However, the Turkish government has tried its best to prevent iGaming in the country by blocking any foreign iGaming platforms. In addition, all ISPs in Turkey must do the same. Even Turkish banks have been asked to block their citizens from any transactions with or related to iGaming platforms.

In the Turkish market, Sweden’s Betsson is one of the largest foreign gambling companies. This is a rapidly growing iGaming company that has been providing iGaming services to Turkish residents. According to Betsson’s financial report, more than 26% of the company’s revenue comes from Turkey.

Turkish traditional gambling games

Turkish National Lottery (Millî Piyango)Official website:https://www.millipiyangoonline.com/

The Turkish National Lottery Board, established in 1939, is responsible for supervising the lottery business of chance. Initially, they sold a lottery called "Aircraft Lottery" (Tayyare Piyangosu), designed to support the Ministry of Defense's air force program. However, starting in 2020, the agency began entrusting the company "Sisal Şans" ( https://sisalsans.com/en) to be responsible for its operations for the next 10 years. The company provides technology and gaming experience, but the National Lottery retains regulatory and management responsibilities.

By law, 10% of the total revenue from lottery sales will go to the marketing fund, and 1% of monthly revenue will go to children's services. In addition, 5% of profits will be provided to the Olympic Movement Organizing Committee, while the remaining 95% will be used to support the defense industry.

On the National Lottery's official website or mobile application, users can directly place bets, buy lottery tickets, create profiles and accounts, view prizes, and check lottery results. However, in order to register and operate, users must be over 18 years of age and meet the appropriate eligibility requirements.

Introduction to National Lottery Game Types

National Lottery (Milli Piyango) The National Lottery consists of 6 numbers, which are combined in different arrangements from 0 to 9. The numbers can be repeated. When purchasing a lottery ticket, you can choose to buy a pre-generated combination of numbers (so-called computer-picked numbers), or you can choose your own numbers. Once you visit a betting shop, you will be given a machine-generated digital ticket, or you can purchase them if you prefer an official paper lottery ticket. Roadside vendors usually sell paper lottery tickets with numbers already printed on them. The National Lottery draws prizes three times a month, on the 9th, 19th, and 29th of each month, and on Turkey’s national holidays (April 23, May 19, August 30, and October 29) and across the border. There will also be a holiday lottery draw on New Year's Eve (December 31). New Year's lottery prizes are usually more generous. For example, the jackpot prize for the December 31, 2020 draw is as high as 100 million lire.

There will be a live broadcast at 5:30 in the evening on the lottery day. The machine will draw the number of balls in order, and the prizes will be matched according to the drawn numbers. If your 6 numbers exactly match the drawing order, you will win the jackpot (Büyük ikramiye). In addition, if your number is different from the last 2 to the last 5 digits of the jackpot number, you still have a chance to win the prize, which will be called the consolation prize (Teselli İkramiyesi).

Before the official draw, two "offset numbers (Amorti rakamları)" will be drawn first, one from 0 to 4 and the other from 5 to 9. If the last number of the ticket you purchased matches one of these two numbers, you will get your ticket money back. There are different types of lottery tickets, such as full ticket (tam), half ticket (yarım), and quarter ticket (çeyrek). Their selling prices, winning rates, and bonuses after winning are all different. For example, a person who purchases a quarter ticket will receive a quarter of the prize amount if they win.

Each ticket has a chance of producing a winner.

官方Official gameplay video (Turkish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5d-r_9HTC8&t=10s

Crazy Numbers Lotto (Çılgın Sayısal Loto) This lottery game covers all numbers from 1 to 90. Each time, you choose 6 numbers and arrange them in a row. The concept is similar to some other lottery games, allowing players to select numbers either through computer selection (Sen seç) or manually. In addition, buyers can choose to purchase multiple lines, with each line acting as a betting unit. When filling out a bet, players need to mark the selected numbers on the bet slip and submit the bet slip to the staff, who will use a computer to enter the betting information and generate a lottery ticket. Additionally, bets can be processed online using apps.

Draws are held three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The lottery drawing time is at 9:30 p.m. The lottery process is carried out by randomly selecting 6 numbers from 90-number balls by a machine. Finally, a special number (Joker) will be drawn. If a lottery player selects all 6 numbers, he will win the jackpot. In addition, lottery players can also receive bonuses if they match 5 numbers in sequence and match a combination of numbers between 2 and 5. The bonus amount will be evenly distributed to all winners from the total prize pool.

Official gameplay video (Turkish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvaDqGG6Mwo

Super Lotto This is a number lottery game with a small range of numbers, choosing numbers between 1 and 60 and selecting 6 numbers per row to arrange. In this game, players can choose to use a computer to select numbers or manually select numbers. At the same time, players can purchase multi-line lottery tickets. In addition, you can select more than 6 numbers, and the system will use these numbers to generate different permutations, but the bet amount is still calculated per row. Although it increases your chances of winning, it also amounts to placing multiple different bets. When filling out a bet, players need to mark the selected numbers on the bet slip and then submit the bet slip to the staff, who will use a computer to enter the bet information and generate a lottery ticket. Additionally, bets can be processed online using apps. Draws are held three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The lottery drawing time is at 9:30 p.m., and the lottery process is carried out by the machine randomly drawing 6 numbers from 60-number balls. If a lottery player selects all 6 numbers, he will win the jackpot. In addition, prizes will also be distributed to winners who match between 2 and 5 numbers, and the prize amount will be distributed equally among all winners from the total prize pool.

官方Official gameplay video (Turkish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXPz81EG3Xw&t=1s

Number 10 (On Numara) This is a number lottery game that covers a total of 80 numbers from 1 to 80. The basic gameplay is to select a group of 10 numbers. Players can choose to use a computer to select numbers (Sen seç) or manually select numbers. Multiple sets of lottery tickets can also be purchased in the same period. In addition, you can also choose to mark up to 15 numbers and then form various possible combinations from these 15 numbers, called "System Play (Sistem Oyunu)." Finally, you can also choose "Multiple Draws (Çoklu Çekiliş)," which is similar to consecutive multiple draws and allows up to 4 draws using the same set of numbers. When filling out a bet, players need to mark the selected numbers on the bet slip and then submit the bet slip to the staff, who will use computers to enter the bet information and generate lottery tickets. Additionally, bets can be processed online using apps.

There are two draws per week, on Mondays and Fridays. The lottery drawing time is at 8 p.m., and the lottery process is carried out by the machine randomly drawing 22 numbers from 80-number balls. If a lottery player selects all 10 numbers, he will win the jackpot. In addition, bonuses will be distributed to winners who match between 6 and 9 numbers, as well as bonuses to players who do not guess any numbers. The bonus amount will be distributed equally to all winners from the total prize pool.

Official gameplay video (Turkish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW7rKQX0Gks

Lucky Ball (Şans Topu) This is a digital lottery game with a betting area divided into upper and lower parts. The upper area contains the numbers 1 to 34, and the lower area contains the numbers 1 to 14. In the upper area, players need to choose 5 numbers, and in the lower area, 1 number. Players can choose to use computer selection (Sen seç) or manually select numbers and can purchase multiple sets of lottery tickets. In addition, you can also use "system play," where you can mark up to 15 numbers and then use these 15 numbers to generate various possible combinations. Up to 10 numbers can be selected in the upper area, while all 14 numbers can be selected in the lower area. In addition, there is the option to conduct multiple draws, up to 4 draws, using the same set of numbers. When filling out a bet, players need to mark the selected numbers on the bet slip and then submit the bet slip to the staff, who will use computers to enter the bet information and generate lottery tickets. Additionally, bets can be processed online using apps.

Draws are held twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays. The lottery drawing time is at 8 p.m. During the lottery, the machine first draws 5 numbers from 34-number balls and then 1 number from 14-number balls. There are various chances of winning. If the 5 numbers in the upper area match the 1 number in the lower area, the player will win the jackpot. In addition, prizes are distributed to winners who match between 3 and 5 numbers in the upper area and to winners who match 1 to 4 numbers in the upper area plus 1 number in the lower area. Finally, even if none of the numbers in the upper area match but 1 number in the lower area matches, a bonus is still distributed. The prize amount will be distributed equally among all winners from the total prize pool.

Official gameplay video (Turkish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shxJDU13iQ0

Scratch-Off (Kazı Kazan) It may not be easy for foreign tourists to understand how to play the lotto or what to wait for the lottery draw. However, because small vendors selling lottery tickets can be seen everywhere on the roadside, especially in busy areas with many people, there will still be people who are curious to try their luck. , the most commonly bought scratch tickets (Kazı Kazan).

The unit price of scratch-off tickets on the roadside is very low. I have bought scratch-off tickets in Taiwan and Turkey. I don’t know the actual situation, but I feel that Turkey's winning rate is higher. Although a small amount of money will disappear immediately, based on past experience, it is very good. It is easy to win small prizes and feel good.

The total prize money and selling price will be written on the scratch tickets. Most of them contain three identical amounts, which is the winning bonus. The winning method of each scratch ticket is slightly different. If you don’t understand, the vendor will explain it. The small prizes you scratch out are just a few liras, and the vendors will give them to you directly on the spot, but most people will exchange them for another one until there is nothing left after scratching them off. Because of the continuous change, I once saw a friend scratch off ten liras at a small stall.

Practical Turkish related to the Turkish lottery.

Lottery-related terms in Turkey can help you better understand lottery games. Here are some useful Turkish words:

• Milli Piyango: Refers to the national lottery, usually a type of lotto game.
• Game (Oyun):This term is used to refer to different types of lottery play, as lotto is considered a game of chance.
• Lottery (Çekiliş):This is the passive noun form of the lottery verb "çekmek" and is used to indicate that the winning numbers were drawn at random.
• Valuable bonus (İkramiye):The term usually refers to winnings, although it can also refer to prizes.
• Full vote (Tam), half vote (Yarım), quarter vote (Çeyrek):These terms are used to describe the different tiers of lottery tickets and can also be used to purchase portions of other items such as food.
• Circle the number (İşaret):When placing a bet, the action of circling the selected number can also be expressed as a "mark".
• Betting Block (Kolon):The block or field used to place bets will be priced based on the selected block when placing bets.
• You choose (Sen Seç):If you choose to have the number selected by the computer, this phrase means that you let the computer choose the number for you.
• Big Prize (Büyük İkramiye):Refers to the lottery game's largest prize, usually the jackpot.

These terms can help you better understand the lottery games and buying process in Turkey.

Turkey’s popular betting games online

Currently, in the Turkish market, gambling games are mainly divided into three categories: OKey (Turkish Mahjong), Texas Hold'em and slot machines. These casino games are among the best-selling casino games on Google Play. Turkey is a founding member of the OECD and G20 and is listed as an E7, EAGLE, and NIC country. As of 2023, Turkey's economy ranks 19th in the world by nominal GDP and 11th by purchasing power parity. According to the International Monetary Fund, Turkey is an emerging economy with a mixed upper-middle-income class. The country is one of the world's leading producers of agricultural products, textiles, automobiles, transportation equipment, construction materials , household appliances, and household appliances. occupy a considerable share of the list, reaching 30%)

Turkish special games

Turkish Mahjong (Okey): Okey is Turkey’s national chess and card game and has a large market size in Turkey’s chess and card market. Whether it’s the number of cards, the way the table is set up, or the rules for winning, Okey is quite similar to our country’s mahjong gameplay. This method is worth considering when going to the Middle East and Turkey overseas.

There are 106 cards in a set of Okey. The cards are of 4 different colors and numbered from 1 to 13. Each number has 8 cards, including two red, two yellow, two blue, and two black. In addition, there are two special cards, called wild cards, in the game, whose function is to be used in place of all other cards.

Spribe aviator (pilot game): Aviator online casino game is a more popular and addictive game than slot machines and online poker; some players find it more addictive than roulette. CurrentlyCryptocurrency casinos mostly offer this game. These aviator (pilot game) games are very popular in the Turkish market.

Turkish traditional gambling games

• • Intoxication: Cümbüş is a traditional Turkish dice game. Players roll the dice and place bets on the results. The game involves elements of chance and betting, making it a traditional gambling activity.
• • Intoxication: Cümbüş is a traditional Turkish dice game. Players roll the dice and place bets on the results. The game involves elements of chance and betting, making it a traditional gambling activity.
• • Intoxication: Cümbüş is a traditional Turkish dice game. Players roll the dice and place bets on the results. The game involves elements of chance and betting, making it a traditional gambling activity.

Use of social media

At the beginning of this year, social media users accounted for approximately 73% of Turkey’s total population, of which 40.4% were women and 59.6% were men. YouTube is the most popular and used social media platform in Turkey, with 57.9 million users, 49.5% of whom are women and 50.5% of whom are men.

The second most popular social media platform in Turkey is Instagram, with 48.65 million users, of which 43.3% are female and 56.7% are male. However, it’s worth remembering that 71.1% of Instagram’s total users are a “qualified” audience. Facebook ranks third as the most used social media platform in Turkey. Of the 32.8 million Facebook users, 34.7% are women, and 65.3% are men. Turkey’s “qualified” Facebook audience is also significantly lower than Instagram's. TikTok is Turkey's fourth most used social media platform and is 8.9% lower than Facebook. There are currently 29.86 million TikTok users in Turkey, all of whom are of legal age. 37.9% of the total TikTok users in Turkey are female, and 41.8% are male.

Twitter is another well-known social media platform used by approximately 18.55 million Turks. Among them, female users account for 36.6%, and male users account for 63.4%. The number of “eligible” Twitter users is also very low, accounting for only 27.1% of total Twitter users. On the other hand, Snapchat has only 14.8 million Turkish users, 61.1% of whom are female and 38.2% male. However, its "qualified" audience is about the same as Twitter's, at 21.6%.

Surprisingly, Facebook Messenger lags far behind Facebook, with only 15.75 million users in Turkey. This user group is 30.8% female and 69.2% male. However, its “qualified” audience is slightly higher than Snapchat’s, at 6% larger.

Last but not least is LinkedIn. This social media platform has only 13 million users, accounting for 15% of Turkey's total population. 33.3% of them were female and 66.7% were male. LinkedIn also has the lowest share of the “qualified” Turkish audience at 15.2%.

Summary

• Diversity of payment methods: Turkey has a variety of convenient payment methods, including credit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual currencies, which provide convenience for iGaming.
• Popularity of virtual currencies: Virtual currencies are increasingly popular in Turkey, especially among the younger generation. This provides a relatively anonymous and convenient payment method for iGaming.
• Young user group: From the above data, Turkey’s younger generation occupies a dominant position in iGaming, and most of them are more likely to accept virtual currencies. This may help the growth of the iGaming market.
• The ban on gambling has the opposite effect: Although the Turkish government bans iGaming, some analysis agencies/online comments/local media believe that these measures have not effectively prevented foreign iGaming companies from developing business in the Turkish market. This may lead some Turkish residents to turn to virtual currencies for gambling activities, as virtual currencies are relatively anonymous and difficult to regulate. Therefore, banning iGaming may have the opposite effect of causing more people to seek illegal gambling methods.
• Game preferences are similar to those in Brazil: Research data shows that the popular/mainly promoted game formats on Turkey’s existing platforms are the same as those in Brazil. They are all based on sports and electronics. The overall interface design style and game types are much the same as those on Brazil’s gambling platforms. Similarities. It is more beneficial for gambling platforms that are already operating in the Brazilian market.

Turkey is a country with huge potential when it comes to iGaming. Despite efforts to ban and discourage iGaming, Turkish players still have opportunities and other ways to gamble online with the help of fast internet speeds and online payment methods. Most importantly, Turkish people spend most of their time using the Internet to connect with other people, entertain themselves, and obtain new information. This is an excellent opportunity for iGaming platforms to intervene.

Furthermore, if we compare Turkey’s GDP per capita with other countries, the Philippines is only US$3,499, Vietnam is only US$4,164, Brazil is only US$8,918, and Indonesia is US$4,788. But if compared with China’s per capita GDP, Turkey’s is 18% lower.

Despite this, Turkey's iGaming continues to expand, mainly because the Turkish people's demand for sports, iGaming, and electronic games gradually expands as the age group decreases. If you want to enter the Turkish gaming market, TC-Gaming, which has Turkish localization capabilities and experience in the Turkish market, is your best choice.

TC-Gaming has been widely recognized for its rich experience and professional services. As a veteran gaming company in the industry, TC-Gaming has successfully supported the construction and operation of many gaming platforms with its robust and reliable platform system and excellent technical team. Its multi-lingual and personalized product design is in line with Turkish cultural characteristics and brings a unique gaming experience to gamblers. With over a thousand sports events every week, more than 60 sports types, thousands of ways to bet, and thousands of video game types, your players can find something to play no matter what type of bettor they are. Opening your Turkish gaming platform only takes 10 minutes, and TC-Gaming will become your best partner to quickly enter the Turkish gaming market.