Indonesia Freezes 5,000 Bank Accounts in Crackdown on Online Gambling

Coordinated Effort Targets Gambling Networks

The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), Indonesia’s financial intelligence agency, initiated the account freezes beginning in February. The National Police have supported these efforts by blocking the identified accounts. PPATK detected suspicious domestic and international money transfers connected to online gambling operators, prompting the intervention.

The government views this campaign as critical to protecting citizens from the wide-ranging harm caused by gambling addiction. Authorities link online gambling with escalating cases of drug abuse, fraud, prostitution, and family breakdowns.

Escalating Enforcement Under New Administration

The administration of President Prabowo Subianto has escalated anti-gambling enforcement since taking office. Authorities have taken down nearly 900,000 pieces of online gambling-related content, including websites, IP addresses, and social media posts. These actions aim to stem both the supply and demand sides of illegal gambling in the country.

Despite these efforts, officials remain concerned about the continued growth of cross-border gambling activity. Indonesians are increasingly recruited for jobs in online gambling operations abroad, particularly in Cambodia.

Gambling Fronts for Human Trafficking

The Foreign Affairs Ministry reports a rising number of citizens being lured overseas by false job advertisements. These so-called “lucrative opportunities” often serve as a cover for scam operations and human trafficking networks. Victims, once abroad, are often subjected to forced labor and denied wages.

Since 2020, the government has rescued over 5,000 Indonesian nationals from cybercrime syndicates operating in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Many were trafficked after being promised jobs in neighboring countries like Thailand, only to be relocated to exploitative operations elsewhere.