JAKARTA – The Indonesian government’s efforts to eradicate online gambling are showing concrete results. National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo revealed that since the establishment of the Online Gambling Eradication Task Force (Desk Pemberantasan Judi Daring) on November 4, 2024, law enforcement officers have handled 1,271 cases and named 1,456 suspects.
“There have been 1,271 online gambling cases that we’ve handled. From these, 1,456 individuals have been designated as suspects,” said the Police Chief.
He emphasized that cross-ministerial and interagency cooperation has been a key strength in suppressing online gambling practices. He detailed that asset blocking has been carried out on a massive scale with significant results.
“We have blocked 895 accounts suspected of involvement, with a total value of around IDR 133.5 billion. In addition, we have seized another 4,820 accounts containing IDR 328.78 billion, including bonds valued at IDR 276.5 billion,” he explained.
Listyo also highlighted new patterns employed by gambling syndicates. He noted that foreign networks, including those from China, disguise their operations as technology companies.
“They target the public with offers of small deposits, but it’s a trap,” he warned.
According to him, this phenomenon affects all social strata, from the lower-middle class to young people. He expressed his appreciation for the hard work of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and all police units.
“We will continue to restrict their movements. This is a shared commitment,” Listyo firmly stated.
Support has also come from the private sector. OVO President Director Karaniya Dharmasaputra announced that his company has launched the GEBUK JUDOL (Joint Action to Uncover Online Gambling) initiative to support the government’s measures.
“OVO’s position is clear: we fully support the government’s policies to create a safe digital financial ecosystem,” Karaniya declared.
He explained that OVO is collaborating with PPATK in monitoring and reporting accounts suspected of being linked to online gambling.
“We believe that the spirit of collaboration will strengthen eradication efforts,” he added.
Meanwhile, PPATK Chief Ivan Yustiavandana welcomed the partnership. PPATK also noted an increase in public participation in reporting gambling accounts.
“Public involvement is crucial. We fully support reports related to online gambling accounts. This aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision,” Ivan emphasized.
This integrated approach is expected to protect younger generations and foster a healthy digital environment free from illegal practices.
