Jakartans get into the gambling habit

JAKARTA (JP): The 472nd anniversary of the capital this year is also marked with the growing number of gambling operators scattered throughout the corners of the city.

Gambling is illegal in this country, but a popular trend is called judi buntut, togel, or toto gelap, which is a bet based on four numbers released every two or three days by dozens of gambling operators.

Togel has been popular among Jakartans particularly since city authorities and residents have been busy with the reform movement and the recent general election.

"Winning togel is my only dream at the moment. Many of my friends, including my boss and his wife, also have the same dream," a shop attendant at a car accessory shop at Pasar Mobil Kemayoran in Central Jakarta told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The capital is going to celebrate its 472nd anniversary on Tuesday.

Offering a huge cash prize for winners, togel has captured the hopes of many less fortunate people who are badly affected by the economic crisis.

Jakarta's administration and citizens who used to jointly oppose any gambling operations in the capital might have been too busy waiting for the final results of the poll and figures to see who is elected to lead the country.

As a result, the number of togel gambling operators -- under the support of officials and certain media -- has shown a significant growth in the past few months.

Although there are no official figures of the total amount of money flowing to businessmen from poor Jakartans, it's estimated that it reached billions of rupiah per week.

This amount excludes money spent by gamblers from outside Jakarta.

Previously, such betting was not as popular due to tight monitoring from authorities as well as the public.

For all

Gambling was only played by certain people, particularly the rich, through special mediums, such as international football games on television, at horse races in Singapore or at tightly secured dens.

Gambling now involves penniless people and takes place secretly at certain sites of Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, and Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

Gambling operators take advantage of the reform movement, where everything, including gambling, could be simply labeled as legal business.

Most don't care about the people who struggle hard to get money only to buy togel and dream about winning.

People playing togel are mostly those who earn a small amount of money.

For example, one can easily see soldiers deployed at the House of Representatives (DPR) complex, putting money in to gamble.

Street vendors, hookers and parking attendants are no different.

Djoko, a parking attendant at Blok M area in South Jakarta on Sunday appeals to passersby at the Kebayoran Lama market in South Jakarta to buy his wristwatch so he can join another round of gambling.

"I have lost Rp 100,000 and my money has already run out," Djoko told the Post.

Top issue

At many morning markets in and around the capital, the first topic of the day for traders are the results of togel numbers announced a few hours earlier.

Togel, whose results are routinely displayed in Sinar Pagi daily, has simple rules.

Those who correctly guess the last two of the four winning numbers announced by the operators are paid 60 times what they bet.

Those who match all four winning numbers receive 2,500 times what they bet.

It is not known how the operators select the winning numbers.

Most togel operators have agents across the city. An agent usually works for more than one operator.

Selected agents are mostly shop owners who run businesses in densely populated areas.

The agents simply sit at a desk with a pen and paper. Most also offer receipts and a "guideline" book from soothsayers from which they might translate numerical meanings of someone's dream, for example.

Unlike the past few years, these agents run their business openly as if gambling is already legal in this country.

The announcement of the results is also easily learned from the media.

Sinar Pagi, for example, is used by at least 36 togel operators to announce results in a 5 cm by 4 cm advertisement.

Most togel operators are located on the first and second floors of Senen Inpres market in Central Jakarta.

The Post was offered a Rp 5,000 note by one operator who thought the reporter was security personnel.

"The operators usually give envelopes containing money of varying amounts to visiting security personnel in an attempt to bribe the officers so that the latter won't raid the gambling dens," said Djoko, who tried forcing the Post to buy his wristwatch. (asa/bsr)