Government Blocks 5,011 Accounts Worth Rp 633 Billion, Dismantles Organized Online Gambling Network
*) By: Andi Mahesa
The government through the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) has again demonstrated its firmness in combating online gambling practices (judol) which are increasingly disturbing the public. Most recently, PPATK has successfully blocked 5,011 accounts related to two organized online gambling networks with a total transaction value of Rp633 billion. This step not only reflects the government’s seriousness in eradicating illegal practices, but also confirms that the state is present in protecting social resilience and the future of the nation’s children from the latent dangers of digital gambling.
Head of PPATK, Ivan Yustiavandana, said that thousands of frozen accounts were spread across 23 Financial Service Providers (PJK), including banks, finance companies, foreign exchange traders, insurance companies, and money transfer organizers. This fact indicates that judol practices are no longer carried out in secret, but have formed a fairly neat, systematic network, and involve a broad financial ecosystem.
Further analysis also shows that the activities of both networks were mostly conducted domestically. However, the transaction patterns indicate potential links to international networks, which will be the focus of further investigations. More worryingly, PPATK projects that the turnover of money from online gambling in Indonesia in 2025 could reach IDR 1,200 trillion, an increase of 22.32 percent compared to 2024 of IDR 981 trillion. The number of online gamblers is estimated to reach 8.8 million people, with the majority coming from the lower middle economic class.
These figures underline how serious and massive the threat of online gambling is to the social and economic stability of the nation. Not only does it damage morals, this practice has become a household economic sucking machine, especially among vulnerable communities. Many families are destroyed, children drop out of school, and even criminal acts emerge due to online gambling addiction.
The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, in her statement expressed deep concern over the destructive impact of this practice. She emphasized that online gambling not only damages family resilience, but also destroys the future of the younger generation. Children are now increasingly exposed to gambling content because of the ease of internet access that is not balanced with adequate control and supervision.
Puan urged the government not to only target small players, but to focus more on eradicating big bookies and platform managers who are the brains behind the rampant activity. Puan also emphasized the importance of synergy between various stakeholders such as the Financial Services Authority (OJK), Bank Indonesia (BI), and cellular operators to tighten supervision of digital financial services such as e-wallets and bank accounts that are misused for judol transactions.
In addition to the repressive approach, strengthening digital literacy and anti-online gambling campaigns in schools are considered long-term strategies that must be carried out consistently. This step is important so that children and adolescents are not only equipped with knowledge about technology, but also moral values and critical thinking skills in responding to the temptations of the digital world.
Support for the government’s progressive steps also came from community leaders and national activists. The founder of the Haidar Alwi Institute (HAI), R. Haidar Alwi, expressed his appreciation for the government’s performance in cracking down on online gambling practices. Haidar assessed that the step of blocking thousands of accounts was a significant achievement that showed the state’s commitment to protecting its people from the trap of a detrimental pseudo-economy.
According to him, the action against judol must be seen in a broader context as part of efforts to maintain Indonesia’s digital sovereignty. The state must not allow its citizens to become victims of increasingly sophisticated and transnational digital crime networks. He also invited the public to actively play a role in monitoring and reporting suspicious practices that are potentially related to online gambling.
Of course, this success is not the end of the struggle. On the contrary, it is the starting point for broader, firmer, and more sustainable action. The government needs to ensure that existing regulations are continuously updated and adjusted to the dynamics of digital technology. In addition, cross-sector collaboration between state institutions, the private sector, and civil society must be strengthened in order to create a healthy and productive digital ecosystem.
The public must realize that online gambling is not just a legal or economic issue, but a social and moral issue that threatens the future of the nation. Therefore, solving this problem cannot only rely on law enforcement, but also requires an educational and cultural approach. Collective work is needed to fortify society, especially the younger generation, from temptations that seem tempting but are actually destructive.
As a society that cares about the future of the nation, all elements of society must take part and have a role in combating online gambling. Do not underestimate the threat posed by this practice because the impact is real, from broken homes, neglected children, to mortgaged futures. Let’s be aware of all forms of digital traps that promise instant profits. Don’t be tempted to try, let alone let our surroundings fall into it.
*) The author is a student who lives in Jakarta
