JAKARTA – The Chief Executive of Banking Supervision at the Financial Services Authority (OJK), Dian Ediana Rae, emphasized that addressing online gambling cannot be done in isolation. Instead, it requires a systemic approach involving intensive and continuous cross-agency cooperation.
“These efforts cannot be isolated. It’s not enough, for example, for the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) to work with us (OJK), then we close accounts suspected of online gambling and proceed with enhanced due diligence. It must also be massive,” said Dian during a media gathering in Jakarta.
He explained that tackling online gambling is not as simple as blocking suspicious bank accounts. According to him, OJK, along with local governments and financial institutions, is actively promoting public education to prevent people from getting involved in such illegal practices.
Dian stated that one concrete step that has been taken is developing a joint strategy with bank compliance directors to establish a more comprehensive approach.
“We have started discussions with compliance directors to refine detection methods for accounts suspected of being linked to online gambling,” he explained.
He added that the parameters for identifying accounts related to digital gambling activities are still being refined. Nevertheless, banks continue to conduct cyber patrols, analyze customer profiles, and monitor suspicious transactions, including those involving passive or dormant accounts.
Furthermore, Dian explained that account blocking is carried out based on indications of criminal activity, in accordance with the suspicious transaction categories defined by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) or illegal activities as defined by OJK terminology.
Amid the intensification of efforts to combat online gambling, Dian stressed that all stakeholders remain committed to maintaining the integrity and public trust in the national financial system. “We will see which regulations are most ideal. But we must ensure there are no more loopholes,” said Dian.
As part of follow-up actions, OJK has instructed banks to block around 17,000 accounts suspected of involvement in online gambling transactions. This blocking was based on data received from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), which was further developed by matching customer identity data and applying enhanced due diligence procedures.
Meanwhile, the Head of PPATK, Ivan Yustiavandana, stated that his agency had temporarily suspended 28,000 dormant accounts throughout 2024. “This measure is part of the National Movement for the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing carried out by PPATK and other stakeholders,” said Ivan when contacted from Jakarta.
Ivan explained that the action refers to the provisions of Law Number 8 of 2010. According to him, the account data was obtained from banks and used as a basis for tracing the flow of funds that could potentially be used for illegal activities.
Through these various measures, both OJK and PPATK emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation and the strengthening of monitoring systems to break the financial chain of online gambling, which is increasingly rampant in society.
