Indonesian police have shut down a large online gambling network that was operating in many parts of the country. The National Police investigation unit, Bareskrim Polri, said the group was running gambling websites linked to foreign crime groups.

The arrests followed several reports made between August and December 2025. Police said online gambling is now a top target, and this case is part of a nationwide crackdown.

Coordinated Raids Across the Country

Police arrested the suspects in coordinated raids across several areas, including Pamekasan Regency (East Java), Tangerang City (Banten), several districts of Jakarta, and Cianjur Regency (West Java).

Brigadier General Wira Satya, Director of General Crime at Bareskrim, said the scale of the raids showed how organised the group was. He explained, “The exposure of this international online gambling network reflects the police’s commitment to carrying out the directives of the president and the national police chief to eradicate online gambling.”

Investigators arrested dozens of people who had different roles in the operation. Some ran the gambling websites, while others handled payments, rented bank accounts, managed online gateways, or helped hide the illegal money.

Platforms Linked to Global Syndicates

Authorities said the group was linked to gambling platforms like T6.com, WE88, and Play With Confidence. These sites were connected to criminal networks across Southeast Asia, Europe, and other parts of Asia.

Early investigations show the network earned hundreds of billions of rupiah in a year. Police are now focusing not just on the website operators but also on people who helped move and hide the money.

During the raids, officers seized computers, laptops, phones, bank books, ATM cards, security tokens, company documents, and many bank statements. Vehicles thought to be bought with gambling money were also taken, and more than 100 linked bank accounts have been frozen. Police are working with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) to trace the money.

Police Stress Social Harm and Heavy Penalties

Wira said the police are not stopping at arrests alone. “We did not stop at arresting the perpetrators. Investigators continue to trace the flow of funds, assets, and other involved parties, including those engaged in money laundering. The entire process is conducted professionally, transparently, and justly,” he said.

He also warned about the harms of gambling. “This crime not only violates the law but also has broad social impacts and harms the public,” Wira stated.

The suspects could face charges under gambling, cybercrime, and money laundering laws, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to Rp10 billion. Police said that in 2025 alone, they uncovered 665 online gambling cases nationwide, arrested 741 suspects, seized Rp1.5 trillion, and blocked over 231,000 gambling websites and accounts.