TLDR
- Indonesia’s OJK told banks to block all active accounts linked to the same National Identity Number as frozen gambling accounts.
- Total bank accounts suspended over online gambling links reached 39,923.
- That figure rose by 1,127 accounts since early October 2026.
- PPATK estimated online gambling turnover at Rp86.8tn ($4.79 billion) in the first half of 2026.
- Internet regulators removed over 4.03 million gambling websites from late October 2024 to September 2026.
Indonesian banks must now do more than freeze accounts tied to illegal online gambling. The Financial Services Authority, known as the OJK, has told lenders to automatically block other active accounts linked to the same National Identity Number.
The order comes as the total number of suspended accounts reached 39,923. That figure is up by 1,127 since early October 2026. Regulators said the count reflects their ongoing work to target the financial networks behind illegal operators.
Dian Ediana Rae, chief executive of Banking Supervision at the OJK, shared the updated count. He announced it after the authority’s monthly Board of Commissioners meeting.
Banks Told to Close the Replacement Account Gap
The OJK has instructed financial institutions to apply Enhanced Due Diligence. The goal is to stop illegal operators from opening new accounts after their existing ones are frozen.
Under the rules, banks must carry out deeper background checks on customers. They are also required to examine complex transaction patterns.
The identity number link is a key part of the approach. When one account is frozen, banks must find and block other active accounts tied to the same person.
The measure is meant to limit how operators keep moving money through backup accounts. It places the job of spotting connections between accounts on the banks themselves.
Banks have also been told to improve how they verify customer identities. They must closely monitor transactions as part of the effort.
Gambling Networks Moved Rp86.8tn in Six Months
The Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Center, or PPATK, has released figures on the size of the problem. It estimated that online gambling networks had a financial turnover of about Rp86.8tn ($4.79 billion).
That amount covers only the first six months of 2026. The data gives a picture of how much money passed through these networks during that period. It was released as part of wider efforts by Indonesian authorities to fight illegal gambling.
The account freezes are one part of the response to those networks. The OJK works on the effort with Bank Indonesia, PPATK and the Indonesian National Police.
Each agency handles a different area. Their roles range from banking regulation and financial intelligence to law enforcement. Together, they target different parts of the same gambling networks.
The OJK issues instructions to banks on checks and account blocking. PPATK provides the data on how much money flows through gambling networks.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs is handling a separate part of the crackdown. It focuses on the online presence of gambling operators rather than their bank accounts.
The ministry said internet regulators removed more than 4.03 million gambling-related websites. The takedowns happened between late October 2024 and September 2026. This work is separate from the bank account suspensions handled by the OJK.
Deputy Minister Nezar Patria said breaking up transnational networks requires action on two fronts. Authorities must shut down both the websites and the payment systems that support them.
The ministry reported its figures alongside the OJK’s latest account suspension update. Both agencies are taking part in the wider crackdown on illegal online gambling.
