Indonesia’s financial services regulator, Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK), has significantly escalated its national campaign against illegal online gambling, known locally as “judol.”
During a high-level monthly board meeting, the agency announced it has successfully blocked 33,252 bank accounts suspected of facilitating illicit wagering activities, a steady increase from previous totals that reflects a hardening regulatory stance.
Enhanced Due Diligence and Financial Blockades
The massive account freeze is the result of a new mandate requiring banks to perform enhanced due diligence (EDD) on suspicious transaction patterns. By cutting off the financial lifeblood of illegal operators, OJK aims to protect the integrity of the national banking system and prevent capital flight.
Dian Ediana Rae, Otoritas Jasa Keuangan’s Chief Executive of Banking Supervision, stated that online gambling has moved beyond a social issue and is now a matter of significant economic and financial oversight:
“Ensuring the integrity of the Indonesian financial system involves constant collaboration between the Financial System Stability Committee, the government, parliament, law enforcement authorities, and other interested parties.”
Revocation of Bank Licenses
The crackdown has not been limited to individual accounts. OJK has taken the severe step of revoking the licenses of six rural banks in the first quarter of 2026 alone. Institutions such as PT BPR Koperindo Jaya in Jakarta and PT BPR Pembangunan Nagari in West Sumatra were shut down after failing to meet consumer protection and regulatory standards.
These actions, taken in alignment with Law No. 4 of 2023 on Financial Sector Development and Strengthening, demonstrate that Indonesian authorities are prioritizing the stability of the banking sector over the revenue generated by high-risk, unregulated entities.
As the enforcement effort continues to expand, banking controls have become the primary weapon in the government’s strategy to disrupt and dismantle the domestic “judol” infrastructure.
