Indonesia Traces Rp1.03tn Gambling Flow Through Payment Firm
The investigation focused on payment flows connected to 1XBET, AJ8KEREN and EMPIRE88. Police said the websites were controlled from outside Indonesia while serving users in Indonesia and other markets.
Payment Trail Leads to PT UPT
Investigators traced transactions through PT Ultra Payment Terpercaya, or PT UPT. The company allegedly received deposit funds linked to the gambling sites. The identified transaction value reached Rp1.037 trillion.
Authorities froze Rp51.99 billion held by five payment service providers as part of the case. The frozen amount represents only a portion of the transaction volume. Still, the action shows how investigators are moving beyond website blocking and into the financial infrastructure supporting illegal gambling.
Five Arrests Map Out the Local Network
Five people were arrested in July in Jakarta, South Tangerang and Semarang, according to ANTARA. Police allege that their roles covered company administration, account opening and financial operations.
One suspect allegedly acted as a director of PT UPT and received gambling deposit funds. Another was accused of arranging a nominal company director and opening corporate accounts used for transactions. A third suspect allegedly handled the company’s legal setup, while another managed its financial activity. Investigators were also searching for another person believed to be connected to the operation.
The suspects face charges under Indonesia’s fund transfer law and criminal code. Police said the offences carry a maximum prison term of 15 years.
Financial Channels Become a Bigger Enforcement Target
The case comes as Indonesia puts greater pressure on the financial side of illegal gambling. Domain and content blocking remain part of the campaign, but regulators are also targeting bank accounts and transaction flows.
By June, the Financial Services Authority, or OJK, had told banks to conduct enhanced due diligence and/or block 36,191 accounts suspected of involvement in online gambling. The total had risen from 33,836 in the previous update.
Payment Routes Give Police Another Pressure Point
Police have also warned that gambling networks use nominee accounts, e-wallets, layered transactions and crypto assets to make money flows harder to trace. Overseas control adds another obstacle when operators themselves sit outside Indonesian jurisdiction.
For enforcement teams, the payment route is the more durable target. Domains can be replaced quickly, but merchant accounts, PSP balances and company records create a trail that is harder to erase. The latest case suggests Indonesia will keep pushing on that pressure point when gambling platforms are operated from abroad.