OJK Blocks 10,000 Accounts Linked To Online Gambling

Vitorio Mantalean

OJK Blocks 10,000 Accounts Linked To Online Gambling

Saturday, 23 Nov 2024

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has blocked 10,000 bank accounts linked to online gambling, with 14 of these accounts located in North Sumatra.

This information was disclosed by the Head of OJK for North Sumatra, Khoirul Muttaqien, during a media gathering themed ‘Synergy between OJK and Media Partners in Building the Economy of North Sumatra’ at Marianna Resort Samosir on Monday, November 18, 2024.

Muttaqien indicated that the blocking of bank accounts associated with online gambling is part of OJK's efforts to combat illegal gambling activities.

He noted that there has been increased pressure on online gambling activities recently. Consequently, OJK is collaborating with relevant agencies to mitigate this issue.

“The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) has reported a decline in online gambling activities. While there has indeed been a reduction, we emphasize that we will continue to monitor and will block accounts if they are proven to be linked to online gambling,” he asserted.

He explained that OJK's authority is limited, and it has currently managed to block 10,000 accounts nationwide, with 14 of those from North Sumatra.

He elaborated that the targets of online gambling and illegal online loans (Pinjol) are increasingly affecting Generation Z, including high school students. This issue has also spread to the Underdeveloped, Frontier, and Outermost (3T) regions, where internet access enables such activities.

According to him, the 3T areas are particularly vulnerable, as seen in Nias. Even though residents may not have bank accounts, they utilize top-up services from digital wallet applications such as DANA, LinkAja, Gopay, OVO, and others to engage in online gambling.

Therefore, during the Financial Inclusion Month (BIK) in October 2024, OJK aims to enhance literacy and education among high school students, particularly in Nias.

The media gathering event, which took place over two days (November 18-19, 2024), was attended by Yusri, the Director of Supervision of Financial Services, Education, Consumer Protection, and Strategic Management Services at OJK North Sumatra. Additionally, the speakers included Yovvi Sukandar, Deputy Director of Supervision of Financial Services, Education, and Consumer Protection at OJK North Sumatra, and Togi Hendrik Siagian, Senior Supervisor of the Deputy Director of Supervision of Financial Services 1 at OJK North Sumatra.