Government Continues to Combat Online Gambling with Tighter Supervision
By: Advan Wicaksono
The government continues to intensify efforts to eradicate Online Gambling through tighter supervision and strategies that touch on various aspects of the national system. This approach is not only focused on blocking digital access, but also includes strict regulations on prepaid SIM cards, supervision of bank accounts, and strict selection of passport applicants suspected of being involved in online gambling activities. The goal is to create a solid fortress from upstream to downstream against the potential misuse of public facilities for these illegal practices.
One sector that is of concern is the distribution of prepaid SIM cards. The ease of obtaining a SIM card without an adequate identity verification process is considered to be one of the loopholes exploited by Online Gambling perpetrators. Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sumail Abdullah, assessed that the weak supervision of the distribution of prepaid SIM cards provides space for these illegal activities. He emphasized the importance of improving the registration system, because there are many cases of identity misuse that are exploited for online gambling interests.
According to him, cellular operators must also be invited to play an active role, not only pursuing commercial gain alone. With the implementation of a strict identity verification system, the room for movement of Online Gambling perpetrators is believed to be significantly narrowed, especially in avoiding fake identities that have been widely used to run their operations.
In the financial sector, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) has shown its important role by blocking thousands of accounts suspected of being used in Online Gambling transactions. The Chief Executive of OJK Banking Supervision, Dian Ediana Rae, explained that by early 2025, a total of 14,117 accounts had been blocked. This number has increased from the previous report which recorded 10,016 accounts. The data was obtained from the Ministry of Communication and Digital, then developed to identify the match between the account numbers and the population registration numbers of the perpetrators.
Dian said that banks in Indonesia have been asked to conduct enhanced due diligence on accounts suspected of being involved. This step is part of OJK’s efforts to maintain the integrity of the financial system and provide protection for the public who could become victims of covert gambling schemes.
Efforts in the immigration sector are also being carried out in parallel. Head of the Immigration Directorate General’s Checking Sub-Directorate, Novan Indriyanto, emphasized that his party has tightened supervision of passport applicants, especially those who intend to travel to countries known as centers of illegal online gambling activities such as Cambodia. This tightening is carried out through a more careful verification process for prospective travelers, in order to prevent misuse of official state documents for illegal interests.
This selective step complements the national strategy that is being implemented to close all potential access that can be utilized by online gambling networks. By monitoring cross-country mobility, the government is placing the immigration system as the last barricade so that perpetrators cannot easily operate abroad and return to exploit domestic legal loopholes.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital also plays a major role by supplying important data used by various institutions in prosecuting online gambling perpetrators. This data is the basis for the OJK in tracing accounts used for illegal transactions, as well as strengthening cross-sector cooperation in building a comprehensive monitoring system.
The government is also encouraging the use of digital technology, including artificial intelligence, to track suspicious activities in cyberspace. This system allows real-time detection of transactions or communications containing elements of gambling. At the same time, the government is implementing a policy of limiting the number of SIM cards that can be owned by one individual to prevent the use of multiple identities.
All of these policies show that the government is not simply reacting to the rise of Online Gambling, but has developed a systemic and integrated strategy. Collaboration between institutions is a major force in building a healthy and safe digital ecosystem. In this case, not only ministries and technical institutions are involved, but also the private sector, including telecommunications operators and financial institutions, which are encouraged to take responsibility for prevention.
The community is also an important part of the solution, because digital literacy and legal awareness will help minimize the potential for misuse of technology. The government encourages an educational and preventive approach, while remaining firm in enforcing the law against perpetrators who have been proven to be running Online Gambling operations.
