Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) has instructed banks to block and close 31,382 accounts suspected of involvement in illegal online gambling, up from 30,392 previously identified.
Officials have warned that online gambling harms financial stability, affects family budgets, and weakens the broader economy. While many gambling platforms operate overseas, they rely heavily on domestic banking channels to process transactions, putting financial institutions under close regulatory scrutiny.
The crackdown continues a series of actions in 2025. In October, OJK asked banks to block 27,395 accounts after similar findings from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs.
“In addressing the extensive economic and financial impact of online gambling, OJK has instructed banks to block approximately 27,395 accounts,” said OJK’s Head of Banking Supervision Dian Ediana Rae at the time.
Those decisions were based on data from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs and OJK’s own supervisory analysis. Banks were again instructed to close accounts linked to the same national identification numbers and strengthen monitoring of unusual transactions.
The government also intensified digital enforcement. Between 20 October 2024 and 16 September 2025, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs removed more than 2.8 million pieces of harmful online content, with 2.1 million directly linked to gambling. The content was primarily hosted on websites, file-sharing platforms, and major social media services.
Despite tighter restrictions on gambling-related transactions, OJK reported that Indonesia’s banking sector remained stable in 2025. Credit growth reached 7.74% year-on-year in November, up from 7.36% in October, with total outstanding credit hitting IDR 8,314.48 trillion (US$493.6 billion). Investment loans saw the strongest growth at 17.98%, followed by consumer loans at 6.67% and working capital loans at 2.04%. Third-party funds (DPK) rose 12.03% to IDR 9,899 trillion (US$587.7 billion).
Liquidity and capital adequacy ratios stayed well above regulatory requirements, indicating that banks could comply with stricter rules without hindering lending or deposit growth.
OJK said that the crackdown on illegal gambling, alongside stable banking performance, demonstrates the sector’s ability to manage risks while supporting economic activity. Authorities said they aim to protect customers, strengthen financial institutions, and mitigate the social and economic impact of illicit gambling by focusing on financial flows associated with it.
OJK also cited the importance of cooperation between regulators, banks, and digital agencies, noting that gambling networks continually adapt by changing platforms and payment methods.
Enforcement and monitoring are expected to intensify in 2026, keeping gambling-linked financial activity under close scrutiny.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/01/14/117118-indonesia-orders-banks-to-close-31-382-accounts-linked-to-online-gambling
