Life's a lottery for many Jakartans, rich and poor alike<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The following is the first of a series of reports on gambling in
\nthe capital, which is a common activity here despite its
\nprohibition under the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n
With togel (lottery) ticket books in hand, Bambang, 33, prepares
\nto greet three men who, as he can just make out from the window,
\nare regular visitors to his house.<\/p>\n
"I got a lot of passengers today, so I will bet 15 pairs of
\nnumbers for tomorrow's lottery. Write down my numbers correctly
\nso that I have a good chance," said Nugroho, 38, an ojek
\n(motorcycle taxi) driver.<\/p>\n
Bambang wrote down each pair of numbers and collected the
\nmoney, but all the while his eyes were fixed on the window.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, his sister, Yanti, 35, rushed into the room, and
\ntold Bambang to stash the tickets and money in a secret place.<\/p>\n
"The police are coming. Please disperse," Yanti shouted as she
\nheaded out the door.<\/p>\n
Bambang wrapped up his belongings while telling his customers
\nto make themselves scarce.<\/p>\n
"We have to be careful in selecting customers as the police
\ncould buy tickets then arrest us. We would have to pay the police
\na lot if that happened," Bambang told The Jakarta Post at his
\nhouse in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta recently.<\/p>\n
Bambang is one of three togel agents in the neighborhood,
\nwhich has a population of less than 1,000 people.<\/p>\n
Each agent has hundreds of customers daily, as lottery
\n"addicts" buy tickets from each agent.<\/p>\n
"We get a 35 percent commission or around three million rupiah
\na day," Bambang boasted.<\/p>\n
Gambling takes many forms in the capital and continues to be
\nbacked by well-known figures. In fact, former Jakarta governor
\nAli Sadikin recently renewed his call for its legalization.<\/p>\n
According to Article 303 of the Criminal Code and Article 2 of
\nLaw No. 7\/1974, gambling operators and gamblers could face up to
\n10 years' imprisonment and a Rp 25,000 fine if found guilty.<\/p>\n
While Ali was governor from 1966 to 1977, gambling and
\nprostitution were "localized" but lawful activities, but the
\npolicy was scrapped when his tenure ended.<\/p>\n
Despite the ban, and the police's claim that they conduct
\nregular raids to rid the city of gambling, people who enjoy a bet
\nhave numerous options open to them in this city of nine million
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Togel, dice and card games are more popular among the poor,
\nwhile wealthier people have a preference for casinos or Mickey
\nMouse gambling machines. Most of the city's gambling dens are
\nfound in West, Central and North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Iwan, 40, a small-time gambler in Klender, East Jakarta, who
\nplays cards with his friends, said he used to play almost every
\nnight with a select group at a friend's house.<\/p>\n
"We bet three to four thousand rupiah a round. I lose up to
\ntwo hundred thousand on any given night. But sometimes I win," he
\ntold the Post.<\/p>\n
Iwan, 43, a big-time gambler, who previously frequented
\nseveral casinos in Kota, West Jakarta, said that he could win
\nhundreds of millions of rupiah one night, but might lose his
\nhouse and car the next.<\/p>\n
"It's a fact that casinos operate in Jakarta. But don't expect
\nto walk in off the street if you're not a regular, or not
\naccompanied by a familiar face," he told the Post in front of a
\ncasino on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Two armed guards stood at the casino's entrance gate while two
\nothers observed the front door.<\/p>\n
"This door is just a camouflage. You will enter a long
\ncorridor before you reach another building. There, you can
\nindulge in all sorts of gambling activities," Iwan said.<\/p>\n
He said that he had never been bothered by the police though
\nhe had visited many casinos.<\/p>\n
"Several police officers actually protect us. I think casino
\nowners have gotten them on side," he said.<\/p>\n
City police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said recently he had
\nno idea there were casinos and gambling dens in the city.<\/p>\n
"You tell us where, and we will raid them. So far, we have
\nreceived false information only," he said.<\/p>",
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