Police in Indonesia’s Riau Islands have adopted a proactive, community-first strategy to combat the rise of illegal gambling. Officers from Sub-Directorate III Jatanras are bypassing traditional raids in favor of face-to-face engagement, visiting neighborhoods to warn residents directly about the legal and social dangers of betting.
Carrying banners explicitly reading “Stop Judi Konvensional,” officers are educating locals on the severe penalties under Article 303 of Indonesia’s Penal Code (KUHP), which governs all gambling activities. The goal is to foster voluntary compliance through understanding rather than fear. “The purpose of this method is to get the message out… and to show that there are serious consequences in relation to KUHP Article 303 if you get involved,” officials explained.
Focus on Social Impact and Online Threats
The campaign emphasizes the “chain reactions” of gambling debt, including domestic conflict, social isolation, and mental health crises. Officers warn that a simple $25 wager can quickly spiral into financial ruin. While the banners target street-level gambling, the police are equally focused on the digital threat. They highlight how online platforms “ramp up the risks even more” due to their accessibility and the prevalence of cyber scams.
National Crackdown Context
This local initiative supports a broader national crackdown on organized gambling networks. Recent operations have resulted in the seizure of over Rp59 billion ($3.5 million) in assets and the blocking of 21 illegal platforms. Authorities are also targeting the financial infrastructure of these syndicates, with banks ordered to shut down over 31,000 accounts linked to gambling transactions.
By combining financial enforcement with neighborhood outreach, police in Riau Islands and Indonesian authorities aim to “cut off the harm at its roots” and protect vulnerable communities from the hidden traps of digital betting.
