Online Gambling Eradication Task Force Intensifies Blocking of Accounts and Tracking of Fund Flows
By: Ratih Safira Utami)*
Online gambling has become a serious threat in Indonesian society. This illicit practice not only damages morals, but also erodes the economy, triggers crime, and damages social order.
In response, President Prabowo Subianto asserted war against online gambling and ordered his staff to take concrete and measurable steps. The Online Gambling Eradication Task Force also moved quickly, aggressively blocking accounts and tracking the flow of illegal funds related to online gambling practices.
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) is actively investigating online gambling cases. In front of the eighth President of the Republic of Indonesia in the Kasatwil Roll Call at Akpol Semarang, the Chief of Police General of Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo reported the achievements of the Bhayangkara Corps in eradicating online gambling, drugs, and several programs that have received attention from the central government.
General Sigit explained that the National Police together with the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs (Polkam) and other related agencies have been working on the Online Gambling Eradication Desk since November 4, 2024.
They have uncovered 789 cases, arrested 937 suspects, and confiscated evidence worth Rp220 billion. In addition, together with the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemenkom Digi), the National Police have taken firm action against sites involved in online gambling crimes by taking down 32,322 gambling sites. The report shows the seriousness of law enforcement officers in eradicating these illegal practices.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan previously said that online gambling is one of the crucial issues that must be addressed. In addition to online gambling, eradicating drugs is equally important.
The government even declared Indonesia in a drug emergency. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan conveyed the achievement of uncovering 3,608 drug cases with 3,965 suspects and evidence worth Rp2.88 trillion, which has the potential to save more than ten million lives from drug abuse. This data shows that the government is paying great attention to eradicating crimes that damage the younger generation.
Eradication of online gambling cannot only rely on law enforcement. The Head of State is well aware that the problem requires cross-sectoral handling. This is well recognized by the Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid who emphasized the importance of the role of the State-Owned Bank Association (Himbara) in efforts to eradicate online gambling.
In a meeting with the Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises and leaders of state-owned companies, the Minister of Communication and Digital called for firm steps in the form of blocking bank accounts suspected of being involved in online gambling transactions.
According to him, blocking bank accounts has a significant deterrent effect on online gambling bookies, unlike sites that are easy to recreate. He explained that managing blocked accounts is much more difficult because it has to go through the bank, and that is one of the keys to suppressing online gambling transactions.
Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid is committed to continuing to open collaboration with various parties, including BUMN, in eradicating online gambling. She requested that there be an alert system from the bank when there is an unusual activity or transaction.
He hopes that Himbara and other BUMNs have a strong commitment to protecting the public from the threat of online gambling. In addition, Menkomdigi also encouraged cellular operators such as Telkomsel to improve the management of the number of SIM card ownership based on NIK through SIM card registration.
The step is considered important to minimize the misuse of SIM cards for illegal activities, including online gambling. Previously, the Minister of Communication and Digital held a meeting with Deputy Minister of SOEs Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, Dony Oskaria, leaders of Telkom, Telkomsel, Bank BRI, Peruri, and KCIC, accompanied by the Acting Director General of Digital Infrastructure and the Acting Director General of Digital Ecosystem. With this cross-sector collaboration, the Minister of Communication and Digital is optimistic that this firm step will be able to reduce the negative impact of online gambling in society.
The nation’s leader who is also a retired high-ranking Indonesian military officer, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is well aware that technology has changed the gambling landscape.
Increasingly easy access via the internet makes online gambling difficult to eradicate using conventional methods alone. Blocking sites, although important, is not the only solution. Therefore, tracking the flow of illegal funds is crucial.
By cutting off the supply chain of funds, the circulation of money in the illicit business can be significantly reduced. This step also helps identify the network of bookies and intellectual actors behind online gambling practices.
Efforts to eradicate online gambling require a comprehensive approach. Law enforcement must go hand in hand with prevention and education efforts. Digital literacy is important to protect society from the lure of instant profits offered by online gambling.
The role of family and society is also crucial in providing moral support and facilitating recovery for victims who are trapped. President Prabowo hopes that efforts to eradicate online gambling can break the chain of new poverty and protect the younger generation from the negative impacts of online gambling.
)* The author is a contributor to Persada Institute
