Indonesia is ramping up efforts to eradicate online gambling, with Bank Indonesia (BI) freezing 7,500 bank accounts linked to illegal gambling activities. Deputy Governor Juda Agung announced the measures during a press conference at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, emphasizing the central bank’s commitment to eliminating online gambling nationwide.

Fraud Detection and Account Freezing

Agung explained that the initiative is a collaborative effort involving payment service providers from both banking and non-banking sectors. These providers are required to implement advanced fraud detection systems to identify accounts involved in online gambling and other fraudulent activities.

“Payment service providers, both banks and non-banks, must have fraud detection systems (in place) to identify accounts used for online gambling transactions and other fraud,” Agung said. Once identified, these accounts are reported to BI, which traces and freezes them, rendering the account holder unable to withdraw funds or conduct further transactions.

The crackdown is ongoing, with Agung affirming, “We will continue to take action against bank accounts affiliated with online gambling until online gambling activities are eliminated in the country.”

Broader Crackdown Efforts

Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid highlighted additional efforts to curb online gambling, including the establishment of an online gambling eradication desk earlier this month. As of November 4, the desk has submitted 651 requests to freeze accounts connected to gambling activities. Hafid also noted that her department has successfully blocked over 104,819 gambling-related websites since its launch.

Since the new government under President Prabowo Subianto took office on October 20, around 380,000 gambling-related sites have been dismantled. Hafid emphasized the importance of collaboration with banks to narrow the operational scope of online gambling networks.

Addressing Student Involvement

In a related development, Higher Education Minister Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro revealed that approximately 960,000 students, spanning schools and universities, have engaged in online gambling. He announced plans to establish dedicated reporting channels within universities to help address this growing issue.

Brodjonegoro also instructed university leaders, including those under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, to actively prevent participation in online gambling among lecturers, students, and academic staff. Minister Nasaruddin Umar confirmed that rectors from institutions such as the State Islamic University and the State Institute for Islamic Studies have been involved in strategy discussions to tackle this problem.

A Nationwide Initiative

Indonesia, as the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has taken a firm stance against online gambling. The recent measures, backed by Bank Indonesia and government ministries, underline a coordinated effort to eliminate gambling activities from the country. The crackdown reflects the urgency brought about by the newly elected government, which has prioritized the eradication of illegal gambling as part of its broader policy agenda.

Source:

“BI to freeze bank accounts linked to online gambling“, ANTARA, November 24, 2024.

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