Indonesia dismantles “international-scale” online gambling ring spanning multiple regions

Indonesia’s National Police say they have broken up a cross-border online gambling syndicate that operated via major betting brands across the country, arresting dozens of suspects and blocking hundreds of bank accounts after months of intelligence-led investigations.

Indonesia’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) has announced that it has dismantled an “international-scale” online gambling network active in multiple regions, following a wave of police reports filed between August and December 2025. According to Brigadier General Wira Satya Triputra, Director of General Crimes, the case stems from coordinated enforcement operations launched in response to complaints and data analysis pointing to large, structured betting activity running through Indonesian territory.

Raids carried out by Bareskrim’s Sub-Directorate III (Jatanras) targeted locations in Pamekasan (East Java), Tangerang (Banten), and multiple districts of Jakarta – West, South, East and North – as well as Cianjur in West Java. Dozens of suspects were detained with roles ranging from site owners and operational managers to financial administrators, renters of operational bank accounts, payment-gateway operators and alleged money launderers.

Investigators say the syndicate controlled or serviced several well-known gambling brands, including T6.com, WE88, PWC (Play With Confidence) and a cluster of sites linked to the 1xBet network, which maintains connections across Asia, Europe and Southeast Asia. Preliminary estimates suggest the group generated turnover and related cash flows worth “hundreds of billions” of rupiah within a year.

As part of the crackdown, police seized a wide range of evidence – computers, laptops, mobile phones, company documents, vehicles and banking instruments – and worked with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) to block more than 100 bank accounts suspected of handling gambling proceeds. The suspects face multiple charges under Indonesia’s Criminal Code (Article 303 on gambling), the Information and Electronic Transactions Law and the Anti-Money Laundering Law, carrying potential prison terms of up to 20 years and fines of up to IDR 10bn (around US$600,000).

Officials present the case as a flagship example of Indonesia’s toughened stance on illegal gambling, in line with presidential directives to eradicate online betting networks that undermine social order and financial integrity. Bareskrim says it will continue tracing the money trail and assets linked to the syndicate, warning that further arrests and account freezes are likely as the investigation expands.