Gambling in the digital age: Online betting and games of chance

Gambling, betting, and games of chance are concepts that have undergone constant transformation throughout history yet have persisted in existence. They remain a subject of debate concerning public health and moral values and have been subject to various regulations aimed at punishment or deterrence in this regard. States have legalized certain forms of gambling, betting, and games of chance while prohibiting others, incorporating various punitive provisions into their legal systems. With the new opportunities brought by technological advancements, gambling, betting, and games of chance have become accessible in virtual environments, significantly increasing their impact. These activities have evolved into a vast industry with an exponentially growing economic dimension. Gambling, betting, and games of chance have influenced the morality, health, and welfare of both society and individuals. The illegal operation of these activities has caused profound damage, particularly in the fields of security and economics, at both national and international levels. In Turkish law, illegal betting, gambling, and games of chance are regulated, with various criminal definitions, penalties, and administrative sanctions established. Accordingly, several regulations have been introduced, including the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, the Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Competitions, and other related legislation. This study examines the concepts of gambling, betting, and games of chance, their historical development, the digitalization phase, their various impacts on society and individuals, and their economic dimensions. The journey and current state of digital gambling, virtual betting, and games of chance are explained, including virtual casinos. xi Legal betting and games of chance, as well as illegal gambling, betting, and games of chance, are analyzed, with emphasis on their connection to money laundering and efforts to combat these activities. A detailed examination of two separate offenses defined under Article 228 of the Turkish Penal Code and Article 5 of Law No. 7258, which play a key role in combating illegal betting, gambling, and games of chance, is included. The relationship of gambling, betting, and games of chance with other legal concepts is also analyzed. This study aims to address the lack of written resources on digital gambling, virtual betting, and games of chance.