Indonesian Online Gambling Deposits Spike After Eid Holiday for Second Consecutive Year

(AsiaGameHub) –   Officials report that Indonesian online gambling deposits are surging following the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr for the second consecutive year.

The alert was issued by the country’s anti-money laundering body, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), according to Indonesian news outlet Tempo.

PPATK runs an automated system that monitors transactions to detect online gambling activity in bank accounts. The agency collaborates with major Indonesian banks to freeze accounts identified as having gambling-related deposits or withdrawals.

According to PPATK officials, there was a “sharp” rise in suspicious transactions potentially linked to online gambling both during and right after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

This year, Eid was observed by the Islamic world from March 19 to March 20.

Online Gambling Deposits: On the Rise

The agency declined to disclose the precise magnitude of the increase, stating that official data would be released in April.

Nevertheless, it noted that the figures from late March were substantially higher than those recorded in January and February.

Experts informed the media outlet that increased leisure time during the holiday contributed to higher gambling activity.

PPATK head Ivan Yustiavandana affirmed that “online gambling deposits generally rise following the conclusion of the holiday.”

“The [sharpest] upward trend usually occurs after Eid, when money circulation increases nationwide,” he said.

Upward Trends

Statistics from 2025, when Eid occurred on March 29-30, seem to support the PPATK’s assertion.

In January 2025, Indonesian players placed deposits totaling IDR 2.96 trillion ($175 million) on unlawful betting sites.

Deposits grew marginally to IDR 3.05 trillion ($180 million) the next month. Transaction values fell to IDR 2.59 trillion in March.

However, April witnessed a 96% surge in deposits to IDR 5.08 trillion ($300 million), which then declined to IDR 2.29 trillion ($153 million) in May 2025.

Gambling in all its forms is prohibited in Indonesia. Despite the prohibition, online casino applications continue to be widely used, prompting authorities to launch an extensive enforcement campaign in recent years.

The enforcement actions have also generated substantial revenue for the Indonesian Treasury. Prosecutors in West Jakarta recently transferred approximately $31.3 million to government accounts following the closure of an online casino and its connected money-laundering operation.

Medical professionals caution that the growing popularity of online gambling is increasingly impacting public mental health. Psychiatric units in major Indonesian urban centers report being inundated with admissions of patients battling gambling dependency.

Certain regions report hospitals operating at 90% occupancy. Physicians indicate this is contributing to rising gambling-associated crime. Additionally, courts across the country have expressed concerns that addiction to unlawful casino platforms is causing divorce rates to climb.