OJK Tightens War on Online Gambling, Over 36,000 Accounts Blocked

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) is continuing to strengthen efforts to eradicate financial fraud and online gambling through the banking sector. One of the measures taken is tightening supervision of accounts indicated to be used in online gambling activities.

Chief Executive of Banking Supervision at OJK, Dian Ediana Rae, stated that this reinforcement is part of developing the banking sector while building a safer digital financial ecosystem. According to him, the OJK has requested all banks to implement Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) on accounts suspected of being linked to online gambling activities.

“Expanding on the report by requesting banks to close accounts that match the National Identity Number (NIK) of parties indicated to be involved in online gambling,” Dian said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday.

The number of blocked accounts continues to grow. To date, the OJK has recorded that 36,735 accounts have been closed due to indications of being used in online gambling activities. This figure has increased from the previous 36,191 accounts, based on data received by the OJK from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi). The blocking measures are part of efforts to sever the flow of financial transactions suspected to be related to online gambling practices.

In addition to blocking accounts, the OJK is also asking all banks to enhance their customer identification and verification processes through the application of Enhanced Due Diligence. This step is intended to ensure that accounts linked to online gambling perpetrators can be quickly identified and followed up according to regulations. The OJK considers strengthening banking supervision to be an important instrument in suppressing online gambling activities that exploit the financial system.

As part of strengthening governance, the OJK also held a Banking Forum in 2026 with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs and the national banking industry on 14 July. The forum carried the theme “Strengthening Banking Information Technology Governance and Enhancing Efforts to Eradicate Financial Crimes and Online Gambling in the Digital Era.”