In 2025, the Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) significantly stepped up its fight against illegal Internet games by ordering banks to block 31382 accounts suspected of assisting illegal activities, up from the 30392 previously notified by the Ministry of Communications and Information. The regulator stressed that this was aimed at protecting the financial system from the disruption of economic order by illegal financial flows.
At a press conference held on 9 January, Dian Ediana Rae, the director-in-charge of the OJK Bank, stated that the bank had to further close closed accounts and close all suspicious accounts linked to the same identity card number. He said that banks also needed to adopt stricter due diligence mechanisms to prevent the financial system of lottery funds from going to domestic markets. According to Dian Ediana Rae: “These measures are deeper than ever and are aimed at cutting off the financing of illegal websites and fundamentally reducing their ability to operate”. In the face of the flexible modus operandi of cross-border gaming sites in the Internet era, OJK has chosen to use the financial chain as an example of precision blocking and dynamic tracking of bank accounts. Through the freezing of funds, the investigation of related accounts and long-term regulation, the regulatory body seeks to make the illicit network “innocent”.
Notably, intensive regulatory action has not shaken the growth of Indonesian banking. Data show that as of last November. Bank credit grew by 7.77 per cent over the same period, up from 7.36 per cent in October, and the total loan size reached 831.448 trillion guilders (approximately $50.4 billion). Of these, investment loans grew the most, to 17.98 per cent; consumer loans grew by 6.67 per cent and liquidity loans by 2.04 per cent. At the same time, foreign capital increased by 12.03 per cent over the same period to Rs. 9899 trillion (approximately $60 billion). Analysts indicated that the banking sector, while implementing the OJK directive, continued to maintain its credit expansion and financial adequacy, demonstrating good resilience and management capacity. There is a general perception in industry that increased regulation has instead enhanced the resilience of the financial system. OJK has adopted a strategy of balancing tough law enforcement with the promotion of legitimate economic activity. Performance indicators, including credit expansion, loan inflows and solid financial ratios, show that combating illicit gambling does not discourage economic growth, but rather increases the ability of the financial system to respond to illicit financial flows while maintaining financial support for business and consumers.
OJK stressed that regulatory action was an important element not only in combating illegal gambling but also in promoting the healthy development of the financial system. By establishing a triple line of account closures, investigations and enhanced scrutiny, banks can be more proactive in identifying and deterring suspicious transactions and blocking the infiltration of illicit funds. With a coordinated multisectoral effort, the banking sector in Indonesia has been moving steadily towards 2026. In the view of industry, instead of slowing down growth, OJK ‘ s regulatory initiatives have raised the level of risk prevention and control and laid a more solid foundation for future development.
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