OJK to Block Over 36,000 Bank Accounts Linked to Online Gambling

The Financial Services Authority (OJK), through its Chief Executive of Banking Supervision, Dian Ediana Rae, has requested that banks block 36,191 accounts indicated to have been used for online gambling activities. He explained that the blocking of tens of thousands of accounts is part of efforts to strengthen the eradication of financial crime, based on data submitted by the Ministry of Communication and Digital. “The OJK has asked banks to carry out enhanced due diligence (EDD) and/or block approximately 36,191 accounts indicated to have been involved in online gambling activities,” Dian said during a press conference for the OJK’s Monthly Board of Commissioners Meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday. “This number is based on data submitted by the Ministry of Communication and Digital,” he stated. The OJK has also asked banks to expand their follow-up actions by closing other accounts whose National Identity Number (NIK) matches those of parties indicated to be involved in online gambling activities. Dian added that banks have also been asked to implement EDD on these accounts to ensure that customer profiles and activities comply with applicable regulations. This measure is part of the OJK’s efforts to strengthen supervision of the use of the banking system for illegal activities, which could potentially disrupt the stability of the financial sector and the economy. It is known that the number of accounts requested to be blocked or subjected to EDD has increased compared to the previous report, which reached approximately 33,836 accounts. Thus, there has been an addition of around 2,355 accounts to the follow-up list based on data from the Ministry of Communication and Digital. On a separate note, the Ministry of Communication and Digital is also collaborating with Meta to form a team to suppress the spread of online gambling promotional content on social media, as part of the effort to eradicate online gambling.