By: Andi Mahesa )*
In recent years, online gambling practices have become one of the most serious digital threats to Indonesia’s social and economic resilience. By exploiting technological gaps and weak supervision in several sectors, the judol syndicate continues to develop in increasingly sophisticated ways. However, the firm steps taken by Bank Indonesia (BI) in blocking 19,606 websites and 23,852 accounts related to online gambling activities from August 2024 to April 2025, show the state’s strong commitment to closing the room for these digital criminals to move.
The Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI), Perry Warjiyo, said that this blocking was part of a firm action to protect the public from the negative impacts of online gambling. According to him, although judol often seems easy and tempting, the risks are much greater and more dangerous than imagined. Therefore, BI imposes sanctions on parties who misuse payment system services for online gambling. This step certainly does not stand alone, but is carried out together with the authorities, ministries/institutions, and related associations in the Online Gambling Eradication Task Force.
Not only targeting accounts and sites that are directly suspected, Bank Indonesia is also monitoring new patterns used by perpetrators to disguise their activities. In this case, the role of payment system industry players is very vital. OVO President Director, Karaniya Dharmasaputra, emphasized that the modes of judol transactions are now increasingly developing. This is because syndicates continue to look for loopholes, including hiding behind fake merchants and misusing off-us transactions such as QRIS through merchant aggregators.
QRIS, as one of the proud innovations in Indonesia’s digital payment system, has provided many benefits. Unfortunately, this technology has actually begun to be used by irresponsible parties as a cover to disguise illegal transactions. Karaniya said that his party, together with BI and PPATK, had traced and followed up on the findings of suspicious merchants. His party also fully supports the obligation for payment service companies to work together in identification and blocking.
This effort is not only important from a legal and security perspective, but also crucial in maintaining the integrity of the national digital economy ecosystem. Online gambling, in many cases, has been proven to drain people’s resources in vain, create debt, trigger domestic conflict, and even increase crime. The losses are not only felt by individuals, but also have a systemic impact on the social and economic stability of the nation.
By making the payment system the main gateway in eradicating gambling, BI and its strategic partners have demonstrated a precise and measured approach. If in the past gambling transactions were carried out in cash or through non-digitalized methods, now the perpetrators are utilizing modern financial technology to cover their tracks.
By blocking accounts and also strict supervision, a number of parties are trying to break the chain of funding that flows through the banking sector into the illegal gambling industry. This step also sends a clear message that the government will not allow online gambling to develop and damage the economic and social stability of society.
The development of digital technology has indeed provided convenience in various aspects of life, including financial services. However, on the other hand, the gaps for crime are also increasingly wide open. Online gambling, illegal online loans, and various other illegal financial practices continue to lurk in society, especially those who lack digital financial literacy.
This is where synergy between institutions and industry players is key. The joint commitment between BI, OVO, and related parties deserves to be appreciated as a collective effort to eradicate the roots of technology-based financial crimes. However, the role of the community is also greatly needed to narrow the room for the perpetrators to move.
Public education about the risks and dangers of online gambling must continue to be intensified, especially among the younger generation who are familiar with technology. The government and educational institutions need to work together to include digital and financial literacy in the curriculum.
The success of blocking sites and accounts affiliated with online gambling is an achievement that cannot be underestimated. This is proof that various parties have worked hard to create a healthy digital environment and reduce the potential losses that can be caused by illegal gambling practices.
However, this success is not only the responsibility of one or two parties. The community also needs to have awareness and active participation in keeping the digital space safe. One way that the community can do is by reporting online gambling sites found on various media platformshe social to law enforcement officers. Community participation in efforts to eradicate online gambling is very important, because they are the parties directly connected to the digital ecosystem and can be the eyes and ears of the government. So, together maintain a healthy and safe digital ecosystem for future generations.
*) The author is a student living in Jakarta.
