Government Continues to Take Real Steps in Eradicating Online Gambling
By: Aldo Setiawan Fikri
The Indonesian government continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to eradicating online gambling that is detrimental to society. The Directorate of General Crimes (Dittipidum) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Indonesian National Police has succeeded in arresting nine suspects who are part of the 1XBET online gambling syndicate. This arrest shows the seriousness of the authorities in taking action against online gambling perpetrators who have harmed society at large.
The Director of General Crimes at the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Indonesian National Police, Brigadier General Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, revealed that the nine suspects were caught in two different disclosures. In the first action carried out on November 14, 2024 in several cities in West Java and Banten, the police managed to secure five suspects with different roles. Then, in further disclosures in Batam and Pekanbaru, officers secured four other suspects who acted as operators, supervisors, and financial admins.
This arrest succeeded in uncovering the very large turnover of money in this online gambling network. One of the suspects who has platinum member status at 1XBET is known to be able to play transactions of up to IDR 6 billion per month. In this operation, the police also managed to confiscate various evidence such as ATM cards, savings books, electronic devices, and cash in various currencies totaling billions of rupiah.
In addition to arresting the suspects, the police also managed to identify the modus operandi of this syndicate. They are known to operate using domains registered abroad, coordinating with networks in various countries, and conducting financial transactions through other people’s accounts to disguise the movement of funds. This action is proof that the online gambling syndicate not only operates nationally but also has links to international networks.
The government has also taken serious steps in dealing with the social impacts caused by online gambling, including efforts to repatriate Indonesian citizens trapped in this syndicate. As of February 2025, there were 6,800 Indonesian citizens involved in online gambling activities in various countries, both as workers and victims of human trafficking. One of the main focuses of the government at this time is to repatriate the 270 Indonesian citizens who are still in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
According to the Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, most of the Indonesian citizens trapped in this syndicate had previously worked in the online gambling sector in the Philippines and Laos before finally moving to Myanmar. They were recruited through tempting job offers from Indonesia and then illegally transferred to the location where the syndicate was operating. The government continues to make various efforts to evacuate them, including working with local authorities and international organizations.
In eradicating online gambling, the government not only acts repressively by arresting perpetrators, but also takes preventive steps such as blocking online gambling content. The Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) has actively blocked thousands of online gambling sites circulating in Indonesia. Since 2023, Kominfo has closed more than 1 million pieces of content related to online gambling. This step is part of the government’s comprehensive strategy to cut off public access to illegal platforms that have the potential to harm them financially.
In addition to blocking, the government also strictly enforces the law against online gambling perpetrators, both players and service providers. The suspects caught in this latest operation were charged with Article 303 of the Criminal Code and the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE). In addition, they were also charged with articles related to money laundering (TPPU), which allows authorities to confiscate assets obtained from the proceeds of the crime. Strict law enforcement is expected to provide a deterrent effect for the perpetrators and prevent further spread of this illegal activity.
On the other hand, the government is also trying to socialize the public about the dangers of online gambling. Through various educational programs, both in schools, universities, and the workplace, the public is urged not to be tempted by the lure of instant profits offered by online gambling sites. This campaign is also supported by various institutions such as the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and Bank Indonesia, which provide an understanding of the negative impacts of online gambling on the economic conditions of individuals and families.
