JP\/5\/TOGEL<\/p>\n
Gambling dealers face tough times<\/p>\n
Oyos Saroso H.N.
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Bandarlampung<\/p>\n
Agus, 22 (not a real name), has been in a rather somber mood for
\nthe past three days, especially upon reading the newspaper about
\nthe major crackdown on gambling being carried out by police.<\/p>\n
Agus was even more dejected after learning that togel (illegal
\nlottery) dealers have ceased operations.<\/p>\n
Agus is not a togel dealer, but he usually places bets on it
\nevery week, even if it's just a few thousand rupiah.<\/p>\n
Besides being hooked on the game, he also sells togel coupons
\nto bettors and is paid Rp 50,000 per week by a dealer.<\/p>\n
If a bettor scores the exact digits, Agus usually gets tips
\nfrom the winner who placed the bet through him.<\/p>\n
"How will we fill our free time if there's no more togel? It's
\njust a pastime, and rewarding too. I can earn Rp 200,000 a month
\nthanks to togel," said Agus on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said that togel is a pastime for ordinary people like him.
\nWith only Rp 500, said Agus, a bettor can win Rp 30,000 if the
\ntwo digits that he or she places come out.<\/p>\n
"If the exact three digits come out, a bettor can get Rp
\n350,000 just by placing a Rp 500 bet. If bettor places a four-
\ndigit bet for Rp 1,000, he or she can get a prize of Rp 2.5
\nmillion," said the young junior high school graduate.<\/p>\n
Agus acknowledged that he had been selling togel coupons for
\nfour years. Even though the pay is small, it adds to his earnings
\nas a construction laborer.<\/p>\n
When not working at a construction site, he can be found at
\nthe Jl. P. Diponegoro-Jl. Cut Meutia intersection in
\nBandarlampung soliciting passengers for public transportation
\ndrivers.<\/p>\n
By selling togel, Agus can help to support his younger
\nsister's education who is now studying at a vocational school.<\/p>\n
According to Agus, since the news on the gambling crackdown
\nspread, togel bosses have ordered their agents to cease
\noperations.<\/p>\n
"My boss has shut his business now. There are still some
\noperators selling coupons discreetly, but I've stopped selling
\nthem because I'm afraid of being caught by the police," said
\nAgus, refusing to mention the name and address of his boss.<\/p>\n
Agus said that besides small-time dealers, there was a big-
\ntime operator who controlled all togel operations in
\nBandarlampung. Data at the Lampung police headquarters indicated
\nthat Lampung was ranked third in terms of togel turnover after
\nNorth Sumatra and Riau.<\/p>\n
Turnover in the illegal lottery in the province reaches Rp 1
\nbillion daily. Togel appears five days a week; Mondays,
\nWednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.<\/p>\n
Togel results, usually spread by word of mouth, are announced
\nat 5 p.m., while on Sunday, results are announced at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
A togel addict said that rampant togel activities in Lampung
\noccurred because operators were unafraid of playing two digit
\ngames, whereas in Medan and Riau, two digit games are only played
\namong selected groups.<\/p>\n
Lampung Police Chief Brig. Gen. Rasyid Ridho said that raids
\nshould have started from Wednesday. The order to stop gambling
\nactivities, including togel, came earlier directly from Gen.
\nSutanto who had pledged to combat gambling.<\/p>\n
According to Rasyid, Lampung police had been active in
\ncracking down on gambling even before Sutanto was appointed
\npolice chief and many gambling cases have been handled in
\nLampung.<\/p>\n
He said that raids are usually aimed at togel, baccarat,
\njackpot and cock fights.<\/p>\n
Rasyid said that besides conducting raids throughout the
\nprovince, Lampung police would also send telegrams instructing
\nall detective units at every police station in the regencies and
\nmayoralties to combat gambling.<\/p>\n
"All togel operations in South Lampung and Tanggamus have
\nstopped following raids a few days ago," he said.<\/p>\n
Lampung detectives chief Sr. Comr. Bahtiar Tambunan said that
\n91 cases of gambling had been investigated between January and
\nJuly 14, and that 160 people had been named suspects.<\/p>\n
The stern measures are needed because togel has spread
\nthroughout the Bandarlampung community, from housewives, parking
\nattendants, pedicab drivers, public transportation drivers and
\nscalpers, to civil servants.<\/p>",
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