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