Indonesia orders banks to block 39,923 suspected gambling accounts

Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) has instructed commercial banks to block 39,923 accounts suspected of links to illegal online gambling. This figure is 1,127 accounts more than the 38,796 accounts set for processing at the beginning of October 2026.

Banks are required to apply enhanced due diligence to customers linked to gambling transactions. They must examine not only the flagged accounts but also other active accounts linked to the same National Identity Number (NIK). Accounts deemed suitable will also be blocked. The aim is to make it harder for illegal operators to open new accounts under the same identity to replace blocked ones.

The regulator expects a more detailed review of the transaction patterns of high-risk customers and the identification of complex or suspicious transactions. Thanks to NIK data, multiple accounts linked to a single individual can be monitored together.

Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria said on 4 November that institutions need to work in coordination to cut off payment channels. The operation involves the OJK, Bank Indonesia, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, and the Indonesian National Police.