Gambling remains rife in West Java

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon

It was business as usual for gambling outlets in the northern coastal areas of West Java province, despite a recent antigambling campaign declared by the chief of the National Police, Gen. Sutanto.

As can be seen, the coupons of a local lottery, popularly known as togel, were still being widely circulating on Saturday in dozens of places in Majalengka, Cirebon, Indramayu and Kuningan regencies here. The coupon trading took place in terminals and markets, and even in housing complexes near public schools in the countryside. Togel agents sold freely togel coupons of various brands to the public.

Togel has become a popular form of gambling in Cirebon, and other places nationwide, as the rule of the game are simple and the coupon is cheap. As the coupon is cheap, it is attractive for people from the low income bracket, moreover that the game offers good returns.

To play togel, one can buy a coupon that costs Rp 500 (0.052 US cents). Then, the customer can pick two, three or four numbers written on the coupon.

The numbers are matched with the numbers announced by the gambling operators twice a week, usually in the middle of the week and over the weekend. If the customer bets correctly on the last two numbers, he will get 10 times the coupon price, three numbers will entitle him to 100 times the togel price and four numbers will gain him 1,000 times the price.

Besides togel, arcade games are also popular in the northern coastal areas. While togel is conducted openly, the arcade games are played covertly.

The rampant gambling has concerned religious leaders in the area, who say that the gambling activities are backed by security personnel. "The gambling can be operated openly because some corrupt security personnel are backing the gambling operators," said Syarief Muhammad, the head of the Indonesian Council of Ulema's Cirebon branch.

Commenting on the instruction by Gen. Sutanto that all provincial police chiefs had to wipe out gambling dens nationwide starting on Monday last week, Syarief said that the instruction should not become mere rhetoric.

"The National Police have to be serious about combating gambling as the gambling has not only ruined people economically, but it has also destroyed the moral fabric of society," said Syarief.

Separately, a senior police officer in Cirebon denied that gambling outlets were still rampant in the regency.

"The Cirebon Police have intensified their crackdown against gambling since a week ago and have rounded up 17 togel bosses. Some togel sellers are still operating, but the number is far fewer than before and they will be wiped out immediately," said deputy chief of Cirebon Regental Police, Comr. Agus Nugroho.