Indonesia’s financial regulator, Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK), has ordered banks to block 31,382 accounts suspected of links to online gambling. The measure is part of a wider government initiative to enhance monitoring, tighten coordination with other agencies, and expand the use of technology to detect evolving payment methods. Officials say early data point to a sharp decline in online gambling transactions in 2025, even as enforcement grows more complex.
OKJ Cracks Down on 31,382 Bank Accounts with Links to Online Gambling: Key Insights
- Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) has instructed banks to block 31,382 accounts suspected of being used for online gambling. The regulator says the action aims to protect the financial system and limit the flow of funds tied to unlawful activities.
- The regulator has asked banks to detect gambling-related transactions by using web crawling, cyber patrols, and advanced alert systems. OJK is coordinating with other government agencies to counter online gambling operators that use a range of payment methods, including e-wallets and QR-based systems.
- The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre reports that online gambling turnover fell sharply in 2025, despite enforcement becoming more complex due to the use of QRIS and cryptocurrency. Regulators say the banking sector remains stable and that inter-agency cooperation will prevent illegal gambling.
Banks to Step Up Monitoring and Coordination
Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) has instructed banks to block more than 30,000 accounts suspected of being used for online gambling activities. OJK’s Chief Banking Supervisor, Dian Ediana Rae, said in a written statement issued in Jakarta on Monday, January 26.
Rae stated:
From September 2023 to December 2025, OJK ordered banks to block more than 30,000 accounts indicated to be linked to online gambling.
Rae said banks are not only responding to blocking requests but are also actively identifying suspicious activity. They are also conducting web crawling to detect accounts used for transactions on online gambling platforms. The findings are being shared with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs for further action.
Rae added that OJK continues to urge banks to strengthen early detection systems to curb online gambling transactions. The effort includes enhancing transaction monitoring systems and strengthening coordination with relevant authorities, as payment channels used in online gambling have become increasingly varied.
Rae explained:
Online gambling perpetrators no longer rely solely on bank accounts, but also use other payment instruments, including e-wallets, to carry out transactions.
OJK has instructed banks to investigate customer accounts and refine alert parameters to enable earlier detection of online gambling transaction patterns. OJK is also encouraging the exchange of data and information on emerging online gambling methods through platforms managed by regulators and financial institutions.
Rising Account Blocks and Stringent Enforcement
OJK has recently stepped up enforcement efforts, asking banks to block 31,382 accounts suspected of being linked to illegal online gambling. This figure is up from the 30,392 accounts earlier identified using data from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs.
Banks were also instructed to investigate how the accounts were used and to close any other accounts linked to the same National Identification Number. Authorities noted that these steps are intended to improve banks’ ability to identify and stop suspicious transactions over time.
Through the third quarter of 2025, online gambling turnover reached Rp155 trillion (approximately €7.76 billion), down 57% from the previous year. The regulator’s figures released in January 2026 showed total online gambling deposits fell to Rp36 trillion (roughly €1.8 billion) in 2025 from Rp51 trillion (nearly €2.6 billion) the previous year.
Indonesia’s Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) said enforcement is becoming more complex due to shifting payment behaviour. Deputy of Analysis and Examination, Danang Tri Hartono, explained the scenario in a media statement on Wednesday, January 7.
Hartono said:
There has been a shift in deposits, which were previously mainly through bank accounts or e-wallets, and now many deposits are made using QRIS. Now there is a separation between accounts and withdrawals through crypto. This complicates the tracing process conducted by PPATK and the future investigators.
Despite the crackdown, OJK said Indonesia’s banking sector remained stable in 2025, with credit growth, liquidity, and capital adequacy ratios staying above regulatory thresholds. The regulator said inter-agency coordination will continue as authorities seek to contain illegal online gambling while safeguarding financial stability.