Sahroni Demands Heavy Sentences for Gambling Operators Using Timezone Arcades as Front

A total of 69 gambling operators and players using children’s arcade venues, or Timezone, as a front in North Jakarta and West Jakarta have been arrested. Deputy Chairman of House Commission III Ahmad Sahroni has demanded the perpetrators be heavily punished. “This must be punished severely because it damages children’s mental development under the guise of children’s games,” Sahroni told reporters on Monday (15/6/2026). He stated that the actions of the perpetrators were extremely dangerous. Sahroni urged the police to investigate the case thoroughly. “Very dangerous,” said Sahroni. “The police must investigate this to the end,” he concluded.

As background, the raids were conducted around 9.45 p.m. Western Indonesian Time on Wednesday (10/6). The perpetrators used children’s arcade game machines to conduct gambling practices. “The gambling was disguised as a Timezone game, which included Mickey Mouse games, roulette, spinning dragon, wind ball, bird/fish/dragon shooting, Uncle’s cards, and slots,” said Head of the Jatanras Sub-directorate of Polda Metro Jaya, AKBP Abdul Rahim, in his statement on Saturday (13/6). The two locations were Dissney Timezone in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, and Sky Timezone in Kalideres, West Jakarta. From Dissney Timezone, 76 gambling machines were seized, while 58 gambling machines were seized from Sky Timezone.

“Players made deposits via cash or transfer, which were then converted into vouchers. From these vouchers, players exchanged coins to play on the gambling machines, and after playing, the coins could be exchanged back into gold or cash/money via transfer,” he said. Currently, 69 people have been arrested by the police. The police detailed that the 69 individuals consist of Timezone owners, employees, and players. “Three owners or managers, 19 organisers or employees, 47 players,” he stated.