Indonesia Arrests 31 Individuals Employed by Online Gambling Sites

Posted on: August 31, 2023, 08:01h. 

Last updated on: September 1, 2023, 02:27h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

Bali authorities apprehended a group of 31 individuals believed to be involved in running an illegal gambling operation. The group allegedly operates a series of online gambling platforms, including Hotel Slot 88, Cuan 88, Jaya Slot 28, Oscar 28, and Sera 77.

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple in Bali, Indonesia
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple in Bali, Indonesia. A crackdown on illegal gambling operations has led to the arrest of 31 people. (Image: World Atlas)

The 31 accused held diverse roles in the organization, which was run with a solid business structure. Those arrested include team leaders, a telemarketing department, and an administrative division. The raid led to the seizure of 240 computers and laptops, which will help strengthen the prosecutors’ case and possibly lead to more arrests.

The telemarketers face charges under Indonesia’s Information Technology Law and Penal Code. The leaders will face additional charges that include, at a minimum, laundering money. That means the leaders could face up to 20 years in prison, depending on how much evidence the authorities produce. That’s in addition to the IDR100 billion (US$6.5 million) fine they could pay for money laundering.

Authorities also froze 58 bank accounts from various financial institutions.

Adi Vivid Agustiadi Bachtiar, head of the National Police for Cyber Crime, said in a news conference on Wednesday that it broke up the gang and its operations in the city of South Denpasar. Vivid added that the arrests were the result of a tip to authorities.

Police led an early-morning raid on the headquarters last Friday. The group’s residence, the Marina Suite apartments, was also raided.

There’s no indication that those in charge of the property had any involvement in the illegal gambling operations.

Indonesia Gaming Laws

Several incidents involving illegal gambling in Indonesia have occurred over the past year, although the people behind them sometimes got away. Law enforcement officials are promising a crackdown to try to keep things from getting out of control.

Gambling is illegal in Indonesia, and stiff penalties are already in place. In a separate statement this week, Vivid confirmed that anyone who promotes online gambling will be prosecuted.

Under the country’s Electronic Information and Transactions Law, online gambling promoters will receive a sentence of six years in prison and a fine of IDR1 billion (US$65,530). The fine would be a crushing blow in a country with an average annual salary of IDR146 million (US$9,581).

The prohibition applies to everyone, even influencers who may think they’re untouchable. Social media personalities are coming under fire for promoting gambling, even legal gambling, and Indonesia is laying down the law.

Vivid warned that the police already have several influencers on their radar. He added that those individuals will face prosecution if the evidence supports the claims of illegal gambling promotion.