Indonesia blocks 5,000 bank accounts linked to online gambling
Indonesian authorities have frozen more than 5,000 bank accounts tied to online gambling, as part of a major crackdown to combat financial crimes and protect the public from its social harms. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) reported that these accounts, both individual and group, were connected to online gambling activities. Natsir Kongah, PPATK’s public relations coordinator, said that the total value of transactions through these accounts could not yet be confirmed.
“So far, we have blocked five thousand accounts… the accumulation since the (PPATK) head said it is that in the first quarter of 2024, it has reached Rp600 trillion (around US$36.39 billion),” Kongah said during an online discussion on the impact of online gambling.
He added that most of the money was transferred to other ASEAN countries, including Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
Majority of gamblers bet over Rp100,000
PPATK also found that around 80% of the 3.2 million online gambling players identified so far were placing bets of more than Rp100,000 (about $6.07) on average.
Kongah said the people involved come from varied backgrounds, including students, university students, and even housewives. “If, for example, the family’s income is Rp200 thousand (around $12.13) per day, if they use Rp100 thousand for online gambling, it will significantly reduce the family’s nutritional fulfillment,” he said.
Reports related to online gambling now account for 32.1% of all suspicious financial transaction reports received by PPATK. This is followed by fraud (25.7%), other crimes (12.3%), and corruption (7%).
New task force to tackle online gambling
On 14 June 2024, the Indonesian government issued a presidential decree forming an online gambling eradication task force. It is chaired by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Hadi Tjahjanto. The task force aims to stop illegal gambling operations that can cause financial harm, social and psychological distress, and even criminal behaviour.
PPATK Head Ivan Yustiavandana confirmed that the blocked accounts were identified in February, and the National Police acted to freeze them. “The core objective of this law enforcement initiative is to protect the public from the social harms of online gambling, which often drives victims to drug trafficking, online fraud, and even prostitution in order to sustain their addiction. It can also lead to the breakdown of families,” he said.
Online gambling drives exploitation abroad
Despite stronger enforcement at home, the government is concerned about the growing number of Indonesians joining online gambling operations abroad, especially in Cambodia.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said many of these people are tricked by fake job offers, only to end up in forced labour or exploitative conditions. Since 2020, over 5,000 Indonesians have been rescued from cybercrime syndicates in countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
Migrant Worker Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding has warned the public against accepting jobs in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. “If you receive job offers from these countries, please exercise extreme caution — many cases of human trafficking have been reported,” he said.
He added that Indonesia does not have any official migrant worker agreements with these countries.
Indonesia cracks down on illegal gambling
Indonesia continues its strict crackdown on illegal gambling, which is banned for both citizens and foreigners. Those caught gambling can face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 25 million rupiah ($1,520). Authorities have linked gambling addiction to rising crime and an increase in high-interest loans. The country’s leading Islamic scholar body considers cockfighting as haram (forbidden).
The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) took down over 1.3 million pieces of digital content linked to gambling and pornography between 20 October 2024 and 8 March 2025. Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision, credited the Indonesian public for this achievement and their active role in reporting such content through the aduankonten.id portal. In February, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that the government will introduce stricter regulations to tackle online gambling. The move aims to strengthen existing measures and the administration’s commitment to intensifying efforts against illegal gambling activities.
