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Indonesia’s Gambling Authority has clamped down on access to igaming platforms in the nation as its gambling task force looks to deter online activity. 

Under the Southeast Asian country’s current legislation, gambling is strictly prohibited for all local residents, migrants and visitors.

The country’s recently launched gambling task force, using officers from the National Armed Forces (Babinsa) and personnel from the National Police Force (Bhabinkamtibmas), will block all access to overseas igaming platforms, with a particular focus on targeting network access providers. 

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Hadi Tjahjanto, explained that suspicious bank accounts have been placed under surveillance to monitor and detect any online gambling transactions. 

“The task force will block access to overseas online gambling platforms, particularly by targeting network access providers,” Tjahjanto commented from Jakarta. 

“The Bhabinkamtibmas and Babinsa are actively monitoring the trading of bank accounts used for online gambling, as well as mini-markets that sell credits for online gambling top-up.” 

To further its fight against illicit gambling activity, Indonesia’s Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center will analyse all surveillance data. The institution has already highlighted between four and five thousand bank accounts showing potential signs of igaming activity. 

These findings are then delivered to the Criminal Investigation Agency, which will hope to identify any names linked to the suspicious accounts before initiating contact with them to alert them of any suspicions. 

A total of 30 days are given to anyone who wants to claim ownership of the accounts, with all available funds going into the national treasury if no one steps forward.