Turkish authorities revoke licenses of Russian-backed payment systems Ininal and Rapara over illegal betting operations
The Central Bank of Turkey has revoked the licenses of two of the country’s most popular payment systems with Russian ties — Ininal and Rapara — following the circulation of illegal bookmaker transactions processed through their cards. In total, assets worth 6.9 billion Turkish lira (approximately 11 billion rubles) have been seized, and around 60,000 accounts linked to gambling platforms have been blocked.
These payment systems were widely used by traders managing gambling-related traffic in Turkey, with transaction fees ranging from 6 to 10%. It is believed that Russian citizens holding foreign passports, who could easily open accounts, acted as drop accounts for these operations. For Russian users, Ininal and Rapara offered convenient payment solutions free from sanctions and transfer complications due to the simple procedure for opening cards and accounts.
It remains unclear how this decision will impact the electronic payment market in the region, but the ban is likely to prompt the search for new transaction channels and tighter regulatory oversight.
