Greater Jakarta Identified as Indonesia's Largest Online Gambling Hub
Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) identified the Greater Jakarta area as Indonesia's largest online gambling cluster in 2025.
- Higher population and digital penetration in Jabodetabek contribute to the concentration of online gambling activities.
- Government efforts include takedown notices, blocking accounts, and public campaigns, but gambling persists in residential areas, targeting the productive age group.
The Greater Jakarta area has become the epicenter of online gambling in Indonesia, with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) identifying it as the largest cluster in 2025. PPATK head Ivan Yustiavandana attributes this concentration to the region's larger population and higher digital penetration compared to other areas.
Online gambling activities are concentrated in Jabodetabek because the population is larger than in other areas. In addition, the digital penetration of the community is also relatively higher.
The Indonesian government has implemented several preventive measures, including website takedowns by the Ministry of Communication and Digital, blocking accounts and QRIS codes used for deposits, and conducting public anti-gambling campaigns in collaboration with PPATK and other stakeholders. Despite these efforts, online gambling remains prevalent.
PPATK data reveals that the Jabodetabek region is a national red zone for online gambling. Kabupaten Bogor leads with 103,092 players and Rp 414.4 billion in deposits, followed by West Jakarta and East Jakarta. Overall, four areas in DKI Jakarta, four in West Java, and two in Banten are among the top ten with the most online gamblers.
Data from PPATK in 2025 shows a concentration of online gambling activities in several areas, with Jabodetabek being one of the largest clusters nationally.
At the sub-district level, Cengkareng in West Jakarta has the highest number of players, with 21,497 individuals. Cakung in East Jakarta and Tanjung Priok follow. PPATK highlights that online gambling is no longer an abstract phenomenon but is present in neighborhoods, schools, campuses, and workplaces. The report also indicates that the most active age group for online gambling is 20-30 years old, followed by 31-40 year olds, with a significantly higher number of male players than female.
This shows that online gambling is no longer a distant or abstract phenomenon. It is already present in our neighborhoods, schools, campuses, workplaces, and surrounding communities.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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