Lucky Valentine

About Lucky Valentine

Much of the onus for the increasing black market is put on increasingly restrictive policies enforced by regulators across the licensed sector.

Taking a deeper look at these restrictive driving black market activity, up to 46% of the markets covered in the report enforced “significant advertising restrictions” on the regulated market, including in Belgium, Bulgaria, Coratia, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Spain.

Additionally the report cited taxing consumers (in 29% of the 28 markets covered), and banned products (14%), were also propelling growth in illegal gambling. A lack of choice, due to monopolies in place in five markets has also driven the rise.

About Lucky Valentine

Published on Monday, after a period of consultation with operators and the gaming ombudsman, the guide clarified expectations around compliance with existing anti-fraud and anti-money laundering regulations without introducing new legal obligations.

While the guide does not impose novel legal duties, it effectively tightens the operational framework that operators must observe to manage player fraud in France.

It has addressed ongoing questions faced by operators regarding when it is reasonable to close accounts, withhold or return player balances, cancel bets, or redistribute tournament prizes deemed fraudulently obtained. 

What is Lucky Valentine?

The Interior Ministry insisted that the crackdown on digital illegal gambling would persist as part of a broader strategy to prevent criminal proceeds being fed into the economy via banking and payment infrastructures. 

Türkiye’s Law No. 7258 criminalises the operation of gambling activities without a licence. Offences are often combined with money laundering and fraud charges, amplifying legal consequences for offenders.

This latest operation forms part of an ongoing surge in Türkiye’s efforts to curb illegal betting throughout 2026.