Turkish Police Use AI System AVCI to Target Illegal Betting Networks on Telegram

Turkish police deployed an artificial intelligence system to identify illegal betting networks operating through Telegram. The effort led to coordinated raids that produced 121 suspects jailed pending trial.

Raids occurred across 39 provinces on November 3. Authorities targeted 194 suspects and detained 169. Prosecutors ordered 121 jailed, placed 45 under judicial supervision, and released three without restrictions. The charging decisions were announced on November 7.

The AI tool, known as AVCI or "hunter" in Turkish, interprets criminal slang and maps connections across messaging platforms.

How the AVCI System Functions

AVCI is an open source intelligence platform developed by Istanbul police. It applies natural language processing to coded language, slang terms, and emoji combinations used by suspected illegal betting operators. The system also examines photographs and videos, links accounts operated under multiple identities, and maps relationships inside criminal groups.

It preserves copies of communications from closed messaging groups even after users delete them. As reported by Casino.org, drawing on coverage in Turkish outlets Türkiye Gazetesi and Sabah, AVCI flagged 306,000 potentially incriminating messages tied to 47 groups. Officials identified a 21-year-old software developer as an alleged ringleader who used the Telegram alias of lottery winner Michael Carroll.

Earlier Use and Enforcement Pattern

The system previously supported a May investigation that examined 600,000 messages across 35 provinces and produced 108 arrests. Turkey's Financial Crimes Investigation Board, known as MASAK, reviewed linked financial transactions while police seized phones, SIM cards, laptops, and related equipment during searches.

Turkey prohibits unauthorized online betting. Police have focused enforcement on operations that promote gambling and handle payments through messaging applications. This latest action shows authorities applying consistent technical capabilities against such networks.