Gambling remains rife in West Java
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.