Minister Reveals 1.4 Million Social Assistance Beneficiaries Suspended Over Online Gambling Links

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, has expressed concern over a significant surge in the number of Beneficiary Families (KPM) under social assistance programmes whose disbursements have been suspended due to indications of online gambling transactions.

Gus Ipul revealed that the findings indicating the use of social assistance funds for online gambling are based on data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK).

“The evaluation results for the second quarter disbursement period of 2026 show that 1,494,652 KPM recipients of staple food assistance, or those holding the staple food card, have been suspended because they are indicated to be involved in online gambling,” Gus Ipul said at a press conference in Jakarta, as quoted on Thursday, 6 August 2026.

He explained that the figure for the second quarter of 2026 has more than doubled compared with the 2025 period, which recorded 600,000 KPM.

In addition to the staple food assistance programme, suspensions due to online gambling transactions have also affected the Family Hope Programme (PKH), reaching hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries.

“Meanwhile, the number of PKH beneficiaries suspended because they were identified as having online gambling transactions stands at 794,475 KPM,” he stated.

To address this, the Ministry of Social Affairs is currently conducting intensive tracing and investigation into the millions of KPM data records indicated to have violated the rules, in cooperation with PPATK, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, other relevant ministries and agencies, and regional government offices.

“Whether intentional or unintentional, or whether the accounts were used by other people, we are truly concerned that accounts are being used for online gambling even though these KPM are in great need of this assistance,” he said.

Nevertheless, Saifullah stressed that the government will not hesitate to take firm action by transferring assistance rights if KPM are proven to have deliberately used social assistance funds for online gambling. The firm measures, in the form of removal and transfer of assistance rights, will be prioritised for recipients who commit repeated violations following warnings from the previous year.