Prosecutors in the eastern city of Bingöl issued arrest warrants for 124 suspects yesterday on charges of illegal betting. Operations were underway in 15 cities to capture the suspects.

Turkey struggles to crack down on illegal betting as a country where football is the nation's favorite sport and a way of earning income for gambling addicts.

The country implemented a law last year to facilitate the seizure of revenues for illegal betting organizers, but the gangs managed to circumvent the strict monitoring of bank accounts.