Indonesia intensifies online gambling crackdown, freezes 1,000 consumer accounts

(AsiaGameHub) –   Indonesia is pressing forward with its aggressive campaign to eliminate illegal online gambling. On 13 April, multiple government agencies led by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) coordinated to block 1,000 bank accounts tied to online betting activity.

“Online gambling … has far-reaching impacts on the economy and financial sector,” said Dian Ediana Rae, OJK board member and head of banking, in March. “OJK has directed banks to conduct enhanced due diligence or block 33,252 accounts” connected to this illegal activity.

Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. Under Sharia law, all forms of gambling — both land-based and online, for locals and foreigners alike — are banned. The country’s 1974 Control of Gambling Law defines gambling as “contrary to religion, decency and the morals of Pancasila, and dangerous to the life of the community, nation and state.”

The core end goal of this legislation is the “complete elimination [of gambling] from the country’s territory”.

Legislators who passed the original law could never have anticipated the growth of online gambling, which is easily accessible to bettors via mobile apps and social media platforms.

Indonesia did not pass new specific legislation to ban online betting until 2024. From October of that year to May 2025, law enforcement blocked more than 1.3 million pieces of online gambling-related content. Officials also announced a plan to block e-wallet usage for online gambling transactions.

According to the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), these efforts have resulted in a 57% drop in online gambling volumes between 2024 and 2025. This year, the national ban has been expanded to cover cryptocurrency-based betting. 

Betting volumes spike during major sporting events

Gambling in Indonesia carries harsh legal penalties. Bettors face prison sentences of up to five years and fines topping RP1 billion ($66,000). Gambling operators and promoters face asset forfeiture and 10-year bans on holding business licenses. While the country does not explicitly ban prediction markets, participating in event-based wagers is still classified as a criminal offense.

Despite these strict restrictions, the underground online gambling industry remains active. PPATK data records 422.1 million online gambling transactions last year, with total deposits reaching 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.

Betting volumes consistently spike around major sporting events. These include 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 fixture period between December and January.