Turkish authorities have arrested 13 individuals, including Ahmed Faruk Karslı, the founder and owner of Papara SuperMassive, as part of a large-scale money laundering investigation. The probe primarily targets illegal online betting operations allegedly facilitated through the Papara banking platform, which Karslı heads.
13 people, including Ahmed Faruk Karslı, the founder of Papara SuperMassive, have been arrested as part of a money laundering investigation.
— Sheep Esports (@Sheep_Esports) May 28, 2025
Ahmed Faruk Karslı holds equity stakes in PAPARA & SuperMassive and is the org's Board Chairman.
By @madgedymeyhttps://t.co/v9aLy6Y3HF
Papara SuperMassive is one of Turkey’s most successful League of Legends organizations, competing in the Turkish Championship League (TCL) since 2016. The team has represented Turkey at international tournaments, including the Mid-Season Invitational and World Championship play-ins, on multiple occasions.
According to reports, the investigation doesn’t directly implicate the esports organization but instead focuses on the activities of its parent company. Turkish officials allege that thousands of Papara user accounts were “rented” to process deposits and withdrawals linked to illegal betting websites. One report suggests approximately 26,000 accounts were involved, generating around 330 million in gambling transaction volume.
Following the arrests, authorities have reportedly appointed a trustee to oversee Papara and its associated entities, which would include the SuperMassive team. This development has sent ripples through the Turkish esports community, where financial companies commonly own or sponsor competitive gaming organizations.
From Summoner’s Rift to legal quicksand
The investigation seems to focus on the banking operation specifically, with no evidence suggesting involvement of SuperMassive players, coaches, or esports staff in the alleged illegal activities. However, the team’s operations could still face disruption due to the legal troubles of its ownership.
This case follows a pattern of increased scrutiny on financial activities within esports globally. Previous investigations in other League of Legends regions, including China’s LPL, have examined issues of betting, match-fixing, and improper financial transactions as esports continues to grow in popularity and commercial value.
With the legal process ongoing, questions remain about the future of Papara SuperMassive. The team may face uncertainty regarding sponsorship, management, and competitive standing in the TCL. Riot Games, the publisher of League of Legends and organizer of official competitions, has not yet commented on whether the situation will affect the team’s eligibility to compete.
The case shows just how complicated the relationship can be between esports organizations and their corporate backers, especially when those financial entities end up with legal trouble. While the SuperMassive roster continues preparing for competition, the organization’s future now depends partly on the outcome of this high-profile investigation.
