Indonesian National Police Reveal 6,000 Online Gambling Cases in the Last Five Years

The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has uncovered 6,386 online gambling cases from 2020 to the third quarter of 2024. From these investigations, 9,096 suspects have been identified, assets worth Rp861.8 billion have been seized, 5,991 accounts have been blocked, and 68,108 websites have been shut down.

The most online gambling cases were uncovered this year, reaching 2,272 cases – a 69% increase compared to last year.

According to National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, several factors contribute to the rise in online gambling cases in Indonesia, including marketing through influencers, backlinks to government websites, broadcasts, and social media promotions.

"Furthermore, payment methods have shifted from using bank accounts to using payment gateways such as QRIS, e-wallets, and crypto," Sigit stated during a working meeting with Commission III of the DPR (House of Representatives) on Monday, November 11, 2024.

He mentioned the challenges in eradicating online gambling due to server locations in countries with regulations differing from Indonesia's.

"Several countries host the servers for online gambling, namely Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and China," Sigit said.