Online Gambling Money Turnover Reaches IDR 327 Trillion
From the end of 2023 to March 2024, 5,000 accounts related to online gambling have been blocked. However, online gambling remains massive.
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JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The circulation of money online gambling in Indonesia throughout 2023 is fantastic, reaching IDR 327 trillion. Online gambling is difficult to eradicate even though it harms ordinary people because ministries and institutions work independently. To overcome this, the government plans to eradicate online gambling in a more holistic manner. An inter-agency task force is planned to be formed.
President Joko Widodo led a closed meeting specifically to discuss online gambling at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (18/4/2024). The meeting was attended by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin.
In addition, present at the event were the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, and Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara. Also in attendance were Minister of Communication and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi, State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Attorney General St. Burhanuddin, National Police Chief General (Pol) Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Chairman of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) Board of Commissioners Mahendra Siregar.
Following a meeting that took place from 2:00 to 3:10 PM West Indonesia Time, Budi Arie explained that the government will form an integrated task force to combat online gambling. "This will involve multiple ministries and agencies, it will be holistic," said Budi Arie to journalists.
Also read: Investigating the Phenomenon of Online Gambling
President Joko Widodo (fifth from right) chairs a limited cabinet meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (29/6/2020).
So far, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has been able to block online gambling sites. However, new sites often appear after being blocked. "So, they close (the online gambling site) here, and a new one pops up with a different name," said Budi Arie.
In addition, even though online gambling sites have been blocked, the flow of money for online gambling continues. While OJK can block, they cannot open or freeze accounts. Law enforcement officials must do this. Therefore, it is hoped that the task force can eradicate online gambling in a holistic and comprehensive manner.
Budi Arie said that the turnover of online gambling money in Indonesia throughout 2023—according to data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK)—reached IDR 327 trillion. It is considered that a turnover of this size is very detrimental to small people. "This year alone, I said at the beginning of the meeting, four people committed suicide due to online gambling. We, this country, have to be serious," he said.
To eradicate online gambling and arrest the dealers, he continued, the Task Force will consist of law enforcement officers, the Ministry of Communication and Information, OJK, PPATK and others. The coordinator will likely be the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. "Just look, in a week there will be dramatic steps taken. "If necessary, just arrest the dealer," joked Budi Arie.
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Blocking effectiveness
Mahendra stated that from late 2023 to March 2024, 5,000 online gambling accounts have been blocked. He considered the efforts of blocking websites and accounts carried out by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology and the Financial Services Authority to be effective.
"However, we see that it is one layer of various layers that exist in the process of online gambling activities. "Some things are not done domestically, across borders, some are not done through bank accounts," said Mahendra.
Some things require in-depth investigation and bank account tracing, including when book transfers and other activities are conducted. This next layer must also be resolved so that there is no empty space. "It's not that what is being done now is effective or not, but what's next? Because, fundamentally, we see that the issue has not been fully resolved," he said.
The task force will enhance coordination and measures to combat online gambling. Moreover, as stated by President Jokowi in his remarks on the eradication of money laundering and terrorism financing the day before, cryptocurrencies are used in these crimes. Similar situations occur in online gambling.
Also read: President: Indications of Money Laundering through Crypto Assets IDR 139 Trillion
A woman sits guiding gambling at one of the tables at Trimulia Casino, Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Monday (4/12/2023).
Indonesian online gambling management centers in countries such as Cambodia will also be explored.
In addition, Mahendra suspects that online gambling methods continue to develop. Therefore, understanding, including the handling by law enforcement officials, must also be more comprehensive.
The Kompas investigation team has investigated the phenomenon of online gambling in Indonesia which is controlled by Indonesian citizens from Cambodia, early December 2023. From the results of tracking the operation of Indonesian language online gambling sites in three locations in the city of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, online gambling is rampant in Indonesia is strongly suspected of being related to the gambling industry in Cambodia which is legal in that country Kompas (14/12/2023).
In the article "Popular Gambling Sites Have a Long Life", the Kompas investigative team wrote that certain online gambling sites can still be accessed even though the government has claimed to block content on these sites. Some are brands of "senior" gambling sites that are often mentioned in court decision files related to online gambling cases.
Also read: "Online" Gambling Surrounds Indonesia from Cambodia
Police officers escorted one of the suspects in a gambling case within a network to Bareskrim Polri, South Jakarta, on Saturday (15/10/2022). They were brought from Cambodia.
Aransha Karnilla Nadia Putri, psychologist, teacher and cyber psychology observer from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, who was interviewed at that time, assessed that games on various gambling sites are designed to have a strong psychological power by stimulating the cognitive functions of the players' brains. "That's what addicted people pursue through gambling or other things," he said (Kompas, 15/12/2023).
Digital economy researcher from the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), Nailul Huda, supports the seriousness of the government in eradicating online gambling by forming a task force. This is because online gambling is already seen as reaching a chronic stage.
According to him, it is not difficult for the government to eradicate online gambling as long as law enforcement officials and related ministries/institutions work together.
"Trace the flow of online gambling funds because the accounts for top up are mostly legal accounts of payment companies (both bank and non-bank) in Indonesia. PPATK must also have the courage to publish the flow of funds. "With more than Rp. 300 trillion in money, I think it is impossible not to be traced," he added.
