Authorities Disrupt Major Online Gambling Network in Indonesia
Indonesian officials have dismantled a significant online gambling operation, H55 HIWIN, following a detailed investigation led by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim). The case involved the freezing of over Rp14.6 billion (equivalent to around €780,000) linked to illegal gambling transactions and exposed an extensive network of affiliated websites.
Aggregator Model at the Center of the Scheme
The operation behind H55 HIWIN used a common tactic in illegal gambling: posing as legitimate aggregators to facilitate financial transactions. The investigation revealed that two companies – PT Digital Maju Jaya (SENCE) and PT Cahaya Lentera Harmoni – acted as intermediaries, processing deposits and withdrawals for gambling activity disguised as regular payments. This method allowed the network to operate under the radar until regulators and law enforcement tracked the flow of funds.
Investigators identified and froze Rp14.67 billion held across eight payment providers. This financial action came after thorough collaboration between PPATK and Bareskrim, involving data sharing, technical support, and forensic analysis of transaction histories. Their coordinated approach helped uncover deeper connections in the gambling network, ultimately leading to enforcement measures.
Six Connected Gambling Sites Also Identified
Further examination of H55 HIWIN’s operations led to the identification of six additional gambling platforms linked to the same infrastructure. These include Bahagia789, LuckyBali, 7276.com, Suka789, JiliaApp, and Lucsvip.net. All sites were reportedly still operational during the investigation and shared a similar backend setup and payment infrastructure.
PPATK also reported that Indonesia saw a 213% increase in online gambling turnover between 2022 and 2023, reaching Rp327 trillion. However, in 2024, that growth slowed significantly, with turnover totaling Rp359 trillion – a rise of just 10%. While the figures remain high, the slower growth is seen as a sign that enforcement actions and public awareness efforts are beginning to take effect.