Indonesia sets up multi-ministry task force to combat online gambling

The Indonesian government is setting up a task force to address online gambling. The task force involves the cooperation of various ministries and agencies including Interpol to handle cross-border cases, as per a report from Bernama – Malaysian National News Agency.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Kominfo) said in a statement issued on Thursday that the task force would operate under Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.

Comprising representatives from Kominfo, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the Financial Transactions Report and Analysis Centre (PPATK), and the country's police, the task force will focus on "comprehensive efforts to combat online gambling."

The above-cited publication said that data from the PPATK indicates that in 2023 nearly 3.2 million citizens of Indonesia gambled online. Out of this number, 80% placed bets under IDR100,000 ($6.16). However, the report did not clarify whether that amount was per session or year.

Kominfo in its statement also informed that in October last year, its officials had found that computer servers based in the Philippines and Cambodia had been offering gambling targeting Indonesians.

The ministry explained that Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) had faced difficulties in trying to bar access to relevant overseas transaction accounts. Kominfo has also faced challenges in blocking access to "problematic" servers based in foreign jurisdictions.

Usman Kansong, the Communications Ministry’s Information and Public Communication Director, said: “Kominfo will oversee the digital space, OJK will manage accounts, PPATK will handle fund flows, and the police will carry out arrest and investigation duties.”

In a separate statement, Hadi Tjahjanto, Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law, and Security Affairs, expressed growing concern over online gambling, particularly incidents that were said to involve school students.