he government has ramped up its efforts to curb the so-called epidemic of online gambling, which is indulged in by around 8.8 million Indonesians and had an illicit turnover of Rp 900 trillion (US$55 billion) this year alone.
Gambling of all kinds is illegal in the country. Under the Criminal Code, people participating in or organizing gambling events may face up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a Rp 25 million fine.
The Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law also restricts the distribution of online gambling software, with people found sharing such programs facing up to six years in prison.
Despite these deterrents, online gambling sites continue to thrive across the country. The websites are often advertised as online mobile games, complicating law enforcement efforts against them.
Pressure started mounting on the government to eradicate these gambling sites, prompting the administration of then-president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to form in June a task force to curb online gambling, the first coordinated effort by the government.
The task force was formed following a report from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), which revealed in June that more than 1,000 members of national and regional legislatures participated in online gambling, debunking the perception that it only affected lower- and middle-income earners.
Among its tasks were freezing bank accounts used in the illicit gambling business and taking down illegal websites and advertising.