Regulation on Amending the Directive on the Application of Fixed Odds and Joint Betting Games Based on Sports Competitions

The Official Gazette dated November 26, 2024, includes the Regulation on Amending the Directive on the Application of Fixed Odds and Joint Betting Games Based on Sports Competitions (“Amending Regulation“). With this amendment, the framework of the Directive on the Application of Fixed Odds and Joint Betting Games (“Directive”) has been revised. While the obligations of fixed and virtual environment dealerships have been increased, the authority of the Spor Toto Teşkilat Başkanlığı (“Organization”) has also been amplified.

Article 7 has been amended to regulate the methods and procedures of betting according to the types of bets (joint, fixed odds and virtual media).

According to the newly added Article 7/A, the Organization may establish an electronic platform, which is connected to a central betting system, for fixed odds and joint betting games where prizes can be collected. This platform will be operated by the Head Dealer under the supervision of the Organization.

According to the changes in Article 8, fixed odds and joint betting games will be played with coupons approved by the Organization, and the mandatory information that must appear on these coupons and tickets are specified in the Directive.

The procedures and principles regarding the distribution of prizes have been modified through the amendments made in Article 12 and limitations are imposed on the period for claiming the prize. It is also stated in this article that the coupons presented will not replace a ticket on the grounds that it is a document that must be filled in for playing.

The amendment in Article 36 states that names of prize winners will not be disclosed.

With this Regulation, the conditions for the establishment and operation of both fixed and virtual media dealers are revised and the article regarding persons convicted of certain crimes listed under the Turkish Penal Code cannot hold a fixed or virtual media dealership license has been added.

   Payment of Sales Totals:

The payment of the sales total by the fixed dealerships to the Organization, as well as matters such as the dealer commission and prize payment premium rates, are regulated in Article 20. The application of the same matters for virtual dealerships is regulated in Article 30.

Fixed and virtual dealerships will separate their commissions, prize payment premiums, and the amount of prize money they have paid, and deposit the remaining amount into their own bank accounts, where they have set up automatic payment instructions in favor of the Organization. If the dealerships become creditors, the Organization will send the receivable amount to the dealership’s bank account on the next business day after the accounting period ends.

• Dealers will be paid a fixed or tiered commission, determined by the Organization, based on the amount remaining after taxes and deductions from the weekly total sales. The Organization may set different commission rates for each fixed or virtual dealer.
• Fixed dealers will receive a bonus payment premium at a rate determined by the Organization, based on the bonuses they pay to participants.

Additions have been made to Article 23/A of the Directive regarding temporary reductions in fixed dealership commissions, Article 24 concerning the cancellation of fixed dealership licenses and in Article 32, the circumstances for the cancellation of virtual dealership licenses have been updated.

  Mobile dealership: According to the amendments made to the mobile dealership activity in Article 25 of the Directive: The Organization may grant the authority to carry out mobile dealership activities, either partially or fully, to the Head Dealer. The Head Dealer can carry out the mobile dealership activity itself or establish a mobile sub-dealer. The important part here is that the establishment of the sub-dealer will require the approval of the Organization.