Indonesia blocks 30,000 bank accounts linked to online gambling

Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority has ordered banks to block more than 30,000 accounts suspected of being used for online gambling, part of a sustained national effort to disrupt illegal digital betting networks. The update was reported by ANTARA News and forms part of a wider inter-agency crackdown aimed at protecting the public from financial harm.

According to OJK Chief Banking Supervisor Dian Ediana Rae, the blocks were carried out between September 2023 and December 2025. He said banks are no longer acting only on formal blocking requests but are now conducting web crawling to identify accounts linked to gambling platforms. Findings are shared with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs for coordinated enforcement.

Rae noted that online gambling operators are increasingly turning to varied payment instruments, including e-wallets, to evade scrutiny. In response, OJK has instructed banks to strengthen early detection by enhancing transaction monitoring systems, refining alert parameters, and expanding the use of information technology to conduct cyber patrols on customer accounts.

Banks have also been encouraged to deepen data and intelligence sharing through regulatory platforms to keep pace with evolving transaction methods. OJK said this coordinated approach is necessary as illegal operators continue to shift tactics to avoid detection.

The government has stated that eliminating online gambling remains a national priority due to its social and economic impact on households. Recent data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center shows a sharp decline in online gambling activity in 2025, with turnover falling 57% from the previous year.

OJK said it will continue to work closely with banks and other agencies to strengthen monitoring systems and safeguard the public from illicit digital betting networks.