In Turkey, a large-scale operation codenamed "Virtual Case" was conducted against popular internet personalities suspected of illegally promoting gambling through the Key Drop website. A total of 19 arrest warrants were issued. Twelve of them were brought to court and released under administrative control, while the others are either abroad or wanted.

How the Scheme Worked

According to the Cybercrime Department, the suspects promoted the Key Drop site during live broadcasts on Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Users opened cases with virtual items, which were then sold for real money.

The investigation revealed that the value of virtual items could reach 10 million Turkish lira (approximately $254,000). One of the suspects received a drop worth over $4,400 and transferred the funds through third-party platforms to a bank account.

It was also found that participation in these cases followed a gambling model: viewers first deposited funds, then opened cases, and the most expensive item went to one participant — the entire process was broadcast live and actively promoted on social media.

Judicial Measures

The court decided to apply administrative control measures to 12 suspects:

• a ban on leaving the country;
• mandatory regular registration at a police station.

Additionally, six people were required to post bail.

Who is Involved in the Case

As part of the "Virtual Case" operation, 12 people were detained, including popular streamers, influencers, and one professional esports player. All were brought to court and released under administrative control with various restrictions.

Particular attention was drawn to the information that among those detained is Ömer "imoRR" Karataş, an active player for the Eternal Fire team in CS2. He was temporarily detained in the morning and later released without arrest for further judicial proceedings.

Another 7 people are wanted, five of whom, according to law enforcement, are outside of Turkey.

Eternal Fire's Statement

The esports organization Eternal Fire released an official statement regarding the situation:

Our CS2 player, Ömer "imoRR" Karataş, was detained this morning as part of an investigation that has garnered public attention. As a result of the judicial process, he was released without arrest and will await trial as a suspect. 

 

Previously, a personalized case was placed on the Key Drop site in collaboration with imoRR. He also mentioned the platform in a 2024 post on the social network X.

XANTARES Also Involved

According to Turkish media reports, the investigation involves the name İsmail "XANTARES" Çakır. He was not detained, but his name was mentioned in a complaint filed with the prosecutor's office in February 2025 by a Turkish journalist. A case with his name was also spotted on the Key Drop platform.

Several sources claim that there was no official arrest warrant for XANTARES, but his name continues to appear in the case materials.

Why It's Illegal

According to Turkish law, gambling and its promotion are strictly prohibited. Profiting from unlicensed gaming platforms is considered a criminal offense, punishable by fines and even imprisonment. This is why the Eternal Fire organization previously sold its former roster, which moved under the Aurora organization.

The individuals involved in the case are under judicial supervision and are awaiting further investigative actions. The investigation has become the largest case in the digital gambling sphere in Turkey and has caused significant public resonance, especially in the esports community.