Key points:
- Over one million Indonesians gambled online between January and March 2025
- 71% of users earned less than IDR 5m ($310) per month
- Total deposits fell to IDR 6.2tn, down from IDR 15tn last year
As reported by CNN Indonesia, Indonesia’s financial intelligence agency has revealed that more than one million people participated in online gambling during the first quarter of 2025. According to the head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), Ivan Yustiavandana, the total number of online gamblers from January to March reached approximately 1.07 million.
Speaking at a press conference held at National Police Criminal Investigation Headquarters on Wednesday, Yustiavandana expressed concern over the socio-economic profile of those involved. “71% of the users had a monthly income of less than IDR 5m. These are individuals who still struggle to meet basic needs,” he said.
Despite the high number of users, PPATK reported a sharp decline in the total amount of funds deposited for online gambling activity. Yustiavandana stated that between January and March this year, deposits amounted to IDR 6.2tn, a significant reduction compared to the same period in 2024, when deposits reached IDR15tn.
“This decline suggests that some of our intervention measures are beginning to work,” Yustiavandana remarked. He credited coordinated enforcement and public awareness campaigns for the progress but acknowledged that the scale of the problem remains substantial.
Online gambling continues to pose regulatory and social challenges in Indonesia, where the activity is officially prohibited. Authorities have increased efforts to monitor suspicious financial activity linked to unregulated gambling platforms, and further action is expected as part of the Government’s broader campaign against illicit financial behaviour.
