GAİN Media Inc. Investigation (2025)

GAİN Media JSC Investigation (2025) is a judicial investigation initiated by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office targeting individuals and companies associated with GAİN Media JSC, encompassing allegations of illegal betting activities, forming an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, and money laundering of proceeds from crime. As part of the investigation, four suspects have been taken into custody and seven companies have been placed under the receivership of the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF).

Istanbul Court of Justice – (Anadolu Agency)

Scope of the Investigation

The investigation into GAİN Media JSC is being conducted by the Bureau for the Prevention of Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering Crimes within the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office.

In its official statement, the Prosecutor’s Office stated that the investigation is being carried out under the criminal categories of violation of Law No. 7258 on Betting and Chance Games in Football and Other Sports Competitions, forming an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, and money laundering of proceeds from crime.

MASAK Reports and Financial Analyses

The Prosecutor’s Office stated that reports prepared by the Board for the Investigation of Financial Crimes (MASAK) were examined as part of the investigation. According to these reports, financial transactions of suspect Berkin Kaya revealed numerous high-value cash deposits and withdrawals. The source of these cash transactions could not be determined, and it was reported that Kaya engaged in intensive SWIFT transactions and made substantial fund transfers to certain companies abroad.

The statement noted that companies associated with Berkin Kaya were reviewed, but no sufficient capital structure or legitimate commercial activity was identified that could explain the scale of these fund transfers. There is substantial intelligence indicating that these accounts were used in illegal betting and fraud operations, the high-value funds circulating in them remain unexplained, and it is assessed that these accounts may have been utilized by an illegal organization.

Establishment and Ownership Structure of GAİN Media JSC

Investigations conducted as part of the probe revealed that GAİN Media JSC, established on 9 July 2020, had its 50 percent shares acquired by suspect Berkin Kaya on 11 June 2024. This share transfer is being evaluated in conjunction with the financial movements under investigation.

Payments to the Company and Capital Increase

The Prosecutor’s Office stated that between 19 April 2024 and 22 October 2024, both before and after the share transfer, a total of 310 million Turkish liras in cash, 88 million Turkish liras via bank transfer/EFT, and 1 million US dollars on 9 January 2024 were paid to GAİN Media JSC, amounting to approximately 450 million Turkish liras.

The same statement indicated that at a general assembly meeting held on 29 November 2024, the company’s capital was increased to 1 billion Turkish liras. More than 380 million Turkish liras of this capital increase was covered by converting shareholders’ receivables from the company into equity. It was determined that the company’s financing was largely secured through substantial cash inflows and transfers from foreign sources.

Transactions Through Anahat Media JSC

According to the statement, Anahat Media JSC, established on 12 December 2024 by suspect Selahattin Aydın as a single-shareholder company with a capital of 10 million Turkish liras, acquired GAİN Media JSC on 22 January 2025 for a consideration of 450 million Turkish liras. On the same date, a cash capital increase was carried out, raising the company’s capital to 470 million Turkish liras.

It was stated that between 28 January and 22 August 2025, Anahat Media JSC executed EFT and bank transfer payments totaling approximately 1 billion 76 million Turkish liras to GAİN Media JSC. These transactions were funded by high-value cash deposits made into Selahattin Aydın’s account, with the amounts swiftly transferred to GAİN Media JSC’s accounts.

Prosecutor’s Office Assessment of the Financial Structure

The Prosecutor’s Office statement included the following assessment regarding the financial movements: “The volume, frequency, and nature of these financial transactions deviate from the normal course of commercial activity.”

The statement further indicated that, when all these transactions are considered collectively, there is strong suspicion that a structured financial system was established for the purpose of laundering criminal proceeds.

Operations, Arrests, and Asset Seizures

Based on the evidence gathered, a simultaneous operation was carried out by units of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command’s Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department to apprehend suspects Berkin Kaya, Barbaros Reşat Gülcan, and Selahattin Aydın and to secure evidence of the crimes. It was announced that movable and immovable assets deemed to have been acquired through criminal activity were seized.

New Arrests on 18 December 2025

In a statement issued by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office on 18 December 2025, it was reported that the investigation into GAİN Media JSC remains ongoing. The statement confirmed that the investigation continues under the criminal categories of violation of Law No. 7258, forming an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, and money laundering of proceeds from crime.

Under this scope, an arrest warrant was issued against presenter Okan Karacan. Following investigations conducted by Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command units, suspect Okan Karacan was taken into custody by gendarmerie personnel. The arrest was carried out in accordance with the decision issued within the framework of the investigation file.

Companies Under Receivership

The statement, which noted the arrest of suspects, indicated that, in coordination with the operation, the Istanbul Emergency Peace Criminal Court issued a decision to appoint the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) as receiver for the following companies:

• GAİN Media JSC
• GAİN Studio Production JSC
• GAİN Shorts Media JSC
• Anahat Holding JSC
• Anahat Media JSC
• 3B Software Technology Industry and Trade JSC
• Berton Construction Industry and Trade JSC