Indonesia Orders Banks to Block 31,000 Gambling Accounts

Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) has stepped up its campaign against illegal online gambling, instructing banks to block more than 31,000 accounts suspected of being used to process gambling-related transactions. The move marks an escalation from earlier actions coordinated with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs and is aimed at shielding the country’s financial system from illicit activity.

Banks Told to Widen Account Closures

Speaking at a press briefing on January 9, OJK Head of Banking Supervision Dian Ediana Rae said financial institutions must go beyond freezing the initially identified 31,382 accounts. Banks are now required to investigate and shut down any additional accounts connected to the same National Identification Numbers, effectively cutting off wider networks rather than isolated accounts.

Rae added that enhanced due diligence measures are now mandatory, with banks expected to strengthen monitoring systems to prevent gambling operators from re-entering the system through newly opened accounts. The regulator views this as a necessary step in disrupting offshore gambling platforms that rely heavily on domestic banking channels for payments.

Targeting the Financial Lifelines of Illegal Sites

Authorities acknowledge that many illegal gambling platforms operate outside Indonesia but depend on local accounts to move money. By focusing on banking access, OJK aims to restrict liquidity at its source, making it harder for these operations to function while reducing the risk of ordinary customers becoming unintentionally involved.

The strategy combines immediate enforcement actions with ongoing supervision, ensuring that blocked operators cannot simply migrate to alternative accounts without detection.

Banking Sector Remains Resilient

Despite the heightened enforcement, Indonesia’s banking sector showed continued strength throughout 2025. By November, year-on-year credit growth exceeded 7.7 percent, with total outstanding loans reaching over 8,300 trillion rupiah. Investment lending recorded the fastest expansion, while deposits and capital ratios stayed comfortably above regulatory thresholds.

OJK noted that banks have been able to comply with account-blocking orders without disrupting lending activity or liquidity, demonstrating operational resilience even under closer scrutiny.

Reinforcing Stability Through Risk Controls

The regulator’s approach reflects a balance between firm action against illegal gambling and support for legitimate financial activity. By layering account freezes, follow-up investigations and stricter due diligence, OJK believes the system is better equipped to manage illicit risks without undermining growth.

With credit expansion and deposit growth continuing, OJK argues that the crackdown has strengthened oversight and risk management rather than slowing the broader economy, positioning the banking sector on stable footing as it moves into 2026.