Tim Alper is a journalist who covers betting news and regulation for CasinoBeats. He joined the CasinoBeats team in May 2025. He reports on breaking news and developments in the world of betting, casinos, and...
Read Full BioOVO, one of the largest e-pay platforms in Indonesia, claims it has blocked more than 7,000 of its users’ wallets after finding evidence that they were used for online gambling.
The e-wallet provider claims to have more than 110 million users in over 300 Indonesian cities and is Indonesia’s first fintech unicorn.
OVO said it had blocked the accounts as part of the Joint Movement to Uncover Online Gambling (Gebuk Judol), the Indonesian media outlet Antara reported. The movement is a joint public-private sector drive. Its masterminds say it will help eliminate the use of e-pay platforms as a payment tool for online gamblers.
OVO Chief Operating Officer Eddie Martono said that the results of his platform’s crackdown were “quite good.” But he added that there was still “work to be done” if OVO wanted to “continue the goal of eradicating gambling in Indonesia.”
Sweeping Crackdown
All forms of gambling are illegal in Indonesia. But the popularity of illegal online casinos continues to grow. The government launched a sweeping crackdown in 2023. This initiative has gathered pace ever since, with courts jailing hundreds of gamblers and online casino operators.
OVO runs its program in conjunction with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center. The COO said it has succeeded in “reducing online gambling transaction activities by up to 97%.”
Gebuk Judol relies on a public reporting system, held over the course of two months. Martono claimed that the accuracy of public reports on accounts suspected of taking part in online gambling was 91%.
In August, OVO said it had completed a second round of Gebuk Judol reporting, following an initial round held in February and March 2025.
The first round resulted in OVO receiving 11,000 public reports and freezing 4,500 accounts. The platform says that it forwards all relevant account details to the government “for further action.”
The OVO official added that his platform is “intensifying efforts to eradicate illegal gambling,” and expanding its range of financial literacy programs.
Indonesian Prison Guards Subjected to Fresh Online Gambling Checks
Meanwhile, prison guards in the country have been subjected to another round of spot checks to ensure they are not gambling online.
Prison governors and senior guards across the nation checked junior staff members’ mobile phones at morning roll calls.
Officials said they were looking for signs of gambling-related transactions on banking and e-pay apps, as well as online casino apps.
The media outlet Time Kupang reported that two senior officers at Kupang Women’s Prison conducted checks on the handsets of all security and administrative staff on December 4.
The prison said the checks were a “preventive measure aimed at preventing potential employee involvement in online gambling activities.”
Thorough Checks
Officials explained that during its checks, “each device is thoroughly checked.” Senior staff examine “application lists, download history, digital access history, and possible links to online gambling sites or platforms.”
A prison official said, “Every employee is required to maintain professionalism. They must avoid activities such as online gambling. Violations of this policy will be dealt with strictly, in accordance with applicable regulations.”
The State Detention Center in Rutan reported a similar inspection on the same day.
A senior official explained that “thankfully, today’s inspection found no indication of gambling practices among any of our officers or interns.”
The official added, “I hope all officers and interns understand that involvement in online gambling is a serious violation. Such activities are detrimental to both individuals and the [prison]. If we find anyone involved, we will take action according to the rules – without exception.”
The Indonesian prison service began checking guards’ cell phones in late September this year. It announced that further unannounced spot checks would be forthcoming.
