A prominent Turkish businessman who built a vast online gambling empire from Poland is now confronting criminal investigations in several European countries, alongside an Interpol arrest notice.
Fedlan Kılıçaslan, 44, has presented himself as a successful entrepreneur and charitable figure since moving to Warsaw from Ukraine four years ago. He flaunted his wealth with a customized Ferrari bearing personalized license plates and purchased one of the city’s most expensive apartments.
However, investigators have uncovered that his fortune stems from online casinos that have drawn scrutiny from law enforcement agencies across multiple jurisdictions.
Polish authorities are currently examining Kılıçaslan and related businesses for potential money laundering, according to a spokesperson from the Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office. The official declined to specify whether Kılıçaslan is a formal suspect, citing the ongoing investigation.
In Spain, Kılıçaslan faces separate legal trouble after being arrested on sexual assault allegations. A Spanish court has prohibited him from leaving the country while the case proceeds.
The businessman’s troubles began escalating in November 2025, when Istanbul prosecutors issued an arrest warrant accusing him of facilitating and promoting illegal betting operations. This prompted Interpol to issue a Red Notice for his capture.
Turkish authorities identified five digital platforms linked to Kılıçaslan, all operating under variations of the name “MeritKing.” Investigators discovered that a former company he owned in Ukraine had registered a trademark for the MeritKing logo, which continues to appear on banned websites still active today.
His Warsaw-based firm, originally called FAF Global Company and later renamed Oliwka Covenant Technologies, reportedly promoted these gambling sites to Turkish-speaking customers. A former employee told reporters that staff would inform clients via text messages and messaging apps whenever Turkish authorities blocked a domain, immediately directing them to new mirror sites.
Records show that more than 100 versions of MadridBet and MeritKing were blocked by Turkish regulators between 2018 and 2023, with domain names adding progressively higher numbers after each ban.
When questioned, the company’s CEO insisted their Polish operations were legal, claiming they only provided marketing services to licensed gambling platforms. However, investigators found that two of the websites held licenses from Comoros and Anjouan, Indian Ocean jurisdictions not recognized by European Union regulators.
Polish gambling law expert Dominika Bura stated that promoting gambling without a license from the Finance Ministry constitutes a potential violation of the Fiscal Penal Code.
Kılıçaslan’s involvement in online gambling dates back to at least 2016, when he registered websites under the BetExpress brand. He later expanded to Ukraine, where his company operated a call center that triggered an investigation by the State Security Service for allegedly defrauding citizens.
His business network in Poland has recently changed hands. A buyer named Semih Saçlı acquired Kılıçaslan’s former company, stating he recognized both its potential and the risks posed by media scrutiny. Saçlı insisted Kılıçaslan has no current role in the business.
While reporters could not obtain details about the Polish money laundering probe, a law enforcement official disclosed that bank accounts belonging to Kılıçaslan and his former company had been frozen. Saçlı declined to comment on the account closures, saying he wasn’t personally involved in banking decisions.
Kılıçaslan’s legal difficulties continue to mount as authorities across Europe piece together his business operations and alleged misconduct.