Published on: May 10, 2026, 10:28 AM.
Updated on: May 10, 2026, 10:28 AM.
- Indonesian authorities have apprehended 321 foreigners for illegal gambling activities
- These individuals are implicated in operating 75 illicit online gambling sites
On Saturday, May 9, Indonesian police conducted a raid in West Jakarta, resulting in the detention of 321 foreign nationals. According to law enforcement reports, these individuals were engaged in an unlawful online gambling operation.
Gambling, including online casinos and sports betting, is strictly prohibited in Indonesia. However, this has not deterred illegal operations from establishing themselves within the country to manage clandestine online gambling platforms and applications.
We have uncovered claims of organized gambling operations involving foreign nationals from multiple regions,” stated Brigadier General Wira Satya Triputra, the Director of General Crimes for the Indonesian National Police.
Among those detained, 228 were from Vietnam, 57 from China, with others hailing from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, boasts a population exceeding 288 million, making it the fourth-largest globally. As Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Indonesia is a key player in natural resource exports, particularly in nickel production. Furthermore, the country has evolved into a hub for fintech and digital services.
Network of Illegal Gambling
Indonesian law enforcement has asserted that those arrested facilitated the operation of over 75 online gambling sites, targeting users outside of Indonesia as highlighted by their marketing strategies and language use.
The Indonesian National Police reported seizing safes, passports, laptops, and various currencies during the operation. Ongoing investigations aim to uncover the full extent of the financial network behind the syndicate.
Online gambling remains illegal in most of Asia, allowing illegal gambling networks to appeal to users in nations like China and Japan. The Asian Racing Foundation estimates illegal betting in Asia generates an annual revenue of $425 billion.
Triputra noted that many of the suspects entered Indonesia on short-term visitor visas and have overstayed their permissions. Immigration violations will be included in addition to any criminal charges stemming from the online gambling crackdown.
Triputra added that the defendants could face sentences up to nine years in prison along with fines reaching two billion rupiah (approximately $116,000).
Migration Patterns in Indonesia
Indonesian law enforcement officials indicated heightened vigilance for illegal gambling activities since Cambodia intensified its crackdown on similar iGaming centers last year. Additionally, Cambodia’s conflicts with Thailand have prompted many illicit businesses to seek refuge in alternative locations.
Following enforcement actions in Cambodia, we anticipated a shift toward Indonesia in these operations,” commented Untung Widyatmoko, secretary of Indonesia’s Interpol Bureau.
The recent online gambling raid occurred shortly after Indonesian National Police arrested 44 foreign nationals from Japan and China for orchestrating an online and telephonic scam.