Mass Arrests in Turkey Over CS:GO Loot Box Promotions Involving Influencers

^{Pictured: Ömer “imoRR” Karataş, captain of Eternal Fire}

On June 12, Turkish law enforcement detained 11 influencers as part of a crackdown on illegal gambling activity tied to the promotion of Key Drop, a popular CS:GO loot box platform. According to Turkiye Today, the arrested figures had been promoting the site to local audiences, encouraging users to open in-game cases.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued warrants for 19 individuals in total. However, several suspects remain at large, with five believed to be outside the country.

Cybercrime investigators allege the suspects profited from livestreaming case-opening sessions on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok. In addition, the influencers reportedly converted virtual CS:GO skins and items into real-world cash.

Authorities believe the group generated unlawful revenue by driving traffic and engagement to Key Drop through their promotional content.

Among those arrested are several professional esports players.

Eternal Fire’s Ömer “imoRR” Karataş was taken into custody, while Aurora Gaming’s İsmailcan “Xantares” Dörtkardeş was detained in absentia, as he is currently abroad.

Shortly after Karataş’s arrest, Eternal Fire released a statement confirming that the player had been released pending trial.

Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) had previously blocked access to Key Drop, though the ban was soon lifted. This regulatory inconsistency left legal interpretation around loot box platforms in a gray area. However, the latest wave of arrests signals that Turkey may now be moving to formally classify these sites as unlicensed gambling operations.