Indonesia has continued its aggressive campaign to eradicate illegal online gambling. On 13 April, multiple government bodies led by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) coordinated to block 1,000 bank accounts used for online bets.
“Online gambling … has wide-ranging effects on the economy and financial sector,” said OJK board member and banking head Dian Ediana Rae in March. “OJK has requested banks to carry out enhanced due diligence or blocking of 33,252 accounts” linked to the illegal activity.
Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim country. Under Sharia law, it forbids all forms of gambling, land-based and online, by locals and foreigners alike. Its 1974 Control of Gambling Law called gambling “contrary to religion, decency and the morals of Pancasila, and dangerous to the life of the community, nation and state”.
The legislation’s end goal was the “complete elimination [of gambling] from the territory”.
Lawmakers of the time could not have anticipated the rise of online gambling, accessible to punters through mobile apps and social media channels.
Indonesia did not enact new legislation to prohibit online bets until 2024. From October of that year to May 2025, enforcers blocked more than 1.3 million pieces of online gambling content. They also announced a plan to block the use of e-wallets for online gambling.
As a result, according to the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), online gambling volumes dropped 57% from 2024 to 2025. This year, the ban was expanded to cover crypto bets.
Wagers spike during major sporting events
Gambling in Indonesia carries strict penalties. Punters face prison terms of up to five years and fines of up to RP1 billion ($66,000). Operators and promoters are subject to asset forfeiture and bans on business licensure for 10 years. While the country does not explicitly ban prediction markets, participating in event wagers also is presumed to be a criminal offence.
In spite of these restrictions, the underground industry is still going strong. PPATK data show 422.1 million online gambling transactions last year, with total deposits of RP36.01 trillion. “A total of 12.3 million people made judol deposits through various channels,” said PPATK Public Relations Coordinator M Natsir Kongah in January.
Volumes spiked around major sporting events. They included the UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage in March 2025; the Indonesia Open in Jakarta last June; the Fifa World Cup in June and July; and the Premier League festive period in December and January.
Marjorie Preston
Marjorie began her gaming career in 2007 and has focused on Asian gaming markets since 2020. Outside of work, she writes about travel and film and plays the drums.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/igaming/indonesia-continues-online-gambling-crackdown-freezes-1000-consumer-accounts/
