Indonesian Police Arrest Suspected Illegal Lottery Operator Selling Tickets in Cafe

Indonesian police have arrested a suspected illegal lottery operator after a tip-off from a member of the public.

An unnamed person said they saw the man (aged 40), placing bets on an illegal gambling site via his mobile phone in a public space, said a police spokesperson, the Indonesian media outlet Klik Positif reported.

Police identified the suspect by his initials: TK. He was reportedly placing the bets at a coffee shop at 10:45 p.m. in the Salido District of West Sumatra.

Police took TK in for questioning. He then reportedly admitted to taking money from gamblers to place bets at the same coffee shop.

The man reportedly sold home-made lottery tickets for a Hong Kong state lottery draw, written out by hand on pieces of paper.

In exchange for cash and a commission, he then used his mobile to place bets on an illegal site on behalf of his clients. He promised to pay his clients in cash if they picked the winning numbers.

Indonesian Lottery Arrest

Police found several of these hand-written lottery tickets in TK’s possession when they arrested him, in addition to cash. They found he had also downloaded an app that allowed him to place online bets on his smartphone.

Lotteries are illegal under the terms of Indonesia’s strict anti-gambling laws. Citizens and residents can only enter free-to-enter prize draws.

Accessing overseas-based lottery platforms and online casinos is illegal. Courts can jail, fine, or subject violators to corporal punishment.

Duo Arrested for Gambling in Vegetable Market

Police across the country say they are stepping up their scrutiny of public places as part of their operations against online casino-related gambling.

Officers in the Tenggarong District of the Kutai Kartanegara Regency in East Kalimantan said they arrested two men found gambling online in a vegetable market.

Kukar Police said they found the duo while patrolling “locations that are often used as gathering places.”

The unnamed men are aged 50 and 27, the Indonesian media outlet Kutairaya reported. The suspects are both residents of Tenggarong, but police say they were arrested in different parts of the Tangga Arung Market area.

Officers say they caught both of the men using their mobile phones to place bets on online gambling sites. Police said they have remanded both men in custody.

“We urge the public not to partake in any form of gambling, be it conventional or online,” a police spokesperson said. “If members of the public see evidence of gambling during the course of their days, we urge them to file reports immediately.”

Indonesia’s gambling crackdown continues to gather pace. The country’s anti-money laundering agency said earlier this month that it had blocked 32,144 bank accounts suspected of being linked to online gambling.

Also this month, police chiefs claimed most Indonesian online casino players are university and high school students.

“Many children under 18 are engaging in online gambling,” said a leading police official. “This is certainly a concern for us all. And we must be able to combat it.”