The national police of Indonesia warned that the enthusiasm generated by the World Cup could give rise to illegal gambling and ticket-related scams. The warning was issued as part of security planning in conjunction with TVRI, which broadcasts the World Cup in Indonesia.
TVRI intends to support public viewing events through 34 regional stations. While that gives the tournament a wide reach, it also poses a risk of creating crowds that scammers can take advantage of.
Police Link Public Screenings to Betting Risk
Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, head of the Public Information Bureau, encouraged citizens to notify any suspicious activities using the 110 hotline number. Additionally, police said that a joint complaint hotline might also be set up for issues related to watchalongs.
The warning targets two aspects:
1) Fraudulent ticket sales or screening scams.
2) Football betting, which continues to be illegal in Indonesia and often rises during international sports events.
Banks Remain a Key Enforcement Point
Indonesia has already employed financial restrictions to curb online gambling operations. In April, the Financial Services Authority announced that 33,252 bank accounts suspected of online gambling links had been blocked following Enhanced Due Diligence checks requested from banks.
That explains why the World Cup is an important regulatory challenge. Website blocking is no longer sufficient when illegal operators can use bank accounts, online channels, or offshore-facing platforms. Banks and payment processors have already become part of the enforcement chain.
For operators outside Indonesia, the message is also clear. The existence of a large soccer viewing audience doesn’t alter the legal status of the market. Any effort to reach Indonesian users during the event could attract the attention of law enforcers.
Jakarta Raid Shows the Scale of the Problem
The warning follows a large-scale police crackdown in Jakarta, where 321 foreign nationals were arrested in connection with an alleged online gambling network. Authorities said that the group operated at least 75 betting platforms from a commercial building near Chinatown and was linked to more than 70 gambling websites. AP later reported that police believed the group operated at least 75 betting platforms.
The police later revealed that 275 individuals were listed as suspects in the case. The group included nationals from Vietnam, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Authorities said the platforms targeted users outside Indonesia.
For Indonesian enforcement agencies, this presents two issues at once. They have to protect locals from betting activities and fraud. At the same time, they need to prevent any foreign-run digital gambling services from operating within Indonesia.
What Comes Next
The World Cup might push Indonesian authorities to coordinate more efficiently among police, TV stations, banks, and social media platforms. The test will be speed: how long it takes to identify and report fraud, block accounts, and shut down betting networks. The biggest challenge may come not from the competition itself but from the brief period when scammers can exploit football traffic.
