Just like other Asian countries, Indonesia is taking proactive measures against gambling activities. The country continuously fights the illegal gambling sector, as it restricts both online gambling and retail outlets.
Indonesia has taken a hard posture with the help of financial institutions. This includes banks and other providers operating in the financial vertical. Suspected of engaging in online gambling, this resulted in the freezing of thousands of bank accounts.
The deputy governor of BI, Juda Agung, confirmed last week that the fight against unlawful gambling continues. Local media outlets reported his announcement. Agung revealed that the central bank is prepared to freeze the bank accounts of Indonesians involved in online gambling. This action will have support from banks and other financial providers.
The deputy governor of BI revealed that authorities have frozen around 7,500 bank accounts so far. Agung said authorities suspect that online gambling links these accounts. Freezing the accounts prevents their owners from using them for transactions or withdrawing their funds. It remains unclear what will happen to the funds in these accounts and whether authorities will seize them. Additionally, it is still uncertain how owners of frozen accounts, who haven’t engaged in gambling activities, will regain access to their funds.
The latest action by BI reaffirms the country’s commitment to combating unlawful gambling activities. Agung also confirmed that the government is continuing its efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of gambling through social media and TV campaigns. The deputy governor emphasized the importance of partnering with financial institutions, stressing that these organizations must have systems in place to flag accounts suspected of online gambling and other fraudulent transactions.
