Şahiner: Draft Law on Games of Chance Is a Direct Threat to Society

In a written statement, Şahiner said the law not only concerns games of chance but “places the moral, social, and economic fabric of society on the gambling table.”

He warned that if the draft passes, the number of casinos is expected to at least double within five years, laying the groundwork for worsening poverty and social decay. “By promoting gambling through state mechanisms, people will be pushed to hand over their last penny to casinos,” he claimed.

Şahiner further alleged that the bill would allow citizens to access casinos, prevent public officials responsible for monitoring money laundering from entering casino surveillance rooms, and permit casinos to open within 100 meters of city centers and schools.

Students in the country, he warned, would effectively gain access to these facilities, and acts that currently constitute serious offenses under anti-money laundering laws would be reduced to mere administrative fines—effectively turning a blind eye to major crimes.

"More Than a Regulation — a Threat to Society"

Describing the bill as a societal threat, Şahiner stressed that gambling addiction is classified by experts as a disease requiring treatment. He accused the government of choosing to expand it rather than combat it.

He concluded by calling the draft law “an attempt to legalize moral, legal, and social collapse by leaving open doors for money laundering.”