Online Gambling Threatens the Future of the Nation, President Prabowo Supports PPATK’s Policy to Block Accounts
Jakarta – PPATK Head Ivan Yustiavanda said that his party’s move to block inactive bank accounts or dormant accounts so that they are not misused for online gambling transactions has received support from President Prabowo Subianto.
He said this after meeting Prabowo at the Presidential Office, Presidential Palace Complex, Central Jakarta.
“He supports everything, in principle we protect the interests of customers, so that customers are not harmed, customer accounts are not used for criminal interests. The point is his message is to protect everything,” he said.
Ivan added that his party did not carry out the mass blocking suddenly, but rather there had been coordination with various parties for a long time.
The only problem is that there are accounts that are not dormant but are also blocked. Regarding this, Ivan ensured that there were no significant problems. Because the account has been immediately reactivated, so that people can return to making transactions.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the People’s Democracy Study (SDR) Hari Purwanto said that blocking thousands of online gambling accounts is legitimate, especially since the government is currently in need of fresh funds to patch up the burden of maturing state debt.
“The government must currently seek breakthroughs to overcome state finances where the total debt that will mature in 2025 reaches IDR 800.33 trillion,” said Hari.
According to him, blocking more than 5,000 bank accounts suspected of being related to online gambling is considered a breakthrough in eradicating addiction that is spreading in Indonesian society at all levels.
Moreover, the blocking of accounts carried out by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) is also a breakthrough for the country which is in dire need of fresh money to pay debts due in 2025.
Regarding online gambling, Hari revealed the results of PPATK’s analysis stating that the turnover of these funds in 2025 will experience a very significant increase, up to hundreds of trillions of rupiah.
“The results of PPATK’s analysis show that the turnover of online gambling money in 2025 will reach IDR 1,200 trillion, jumping from 2024 which was IDR 981 trillion. This could be part of the eradication by blocking 5,000 bank accounts,” said Hari.
As input, Hari also highlighted the rise of digital banking or digital wallets such as DANA, GoPay and others which are considered to be facilities for online gamblers.
Even if necessary, Hari proposed that the government immediately close all types of accounts or digital wallet accounts that facilitate online gamblers to deposit gambling slots.
“If you are serious about eradicating online gambling, one of the steps that must be closed is accounts in the DANA application and similar applications because they are often used by lovers of these illegal practices and can be tracked directly by PPATK,” said Hari.
