15 Thousand Social Assistance Recipients In Jakarta Allegedly Playing Online Gambling, Observer: Needs Evaluation And Assistance

Illustration of online gambling (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) recorded that 15,033 DKI Jakarta residents registered as recipients of social assistance (bansos), were identified as playing online gambling throughout 2024.

Responding to this, a social observer from the University of Indonesia (UI), Risalwan, asked the government to pay closer attention to the findings. He reminded that the data could contain identity abuse.

"There could be data misuse. There is data misuse used by certain individuals. Because it's logistic data, big data," Risalwan told reporters, Wednesday, July 30.

Even so, if it is proven that residents who receive social assistance are indeed involved consciously in online gambling practices, he assesses that the distribution of aid should be thoroughly evaluated.

"I suspect this is something related to the program's unpreparedness in anticipating these things. So this social assistance only thinks about distribution, but does not anticipate that they need to be accompanied more precisely," he explained.

Previously, PPATK Head Ivan Yustiavandana revealed that the total online gambling transactions carried out by the social assistance recipient group in Jakarta reached IDR 67 billion in the past year.

Terdapat 15.033 warga DKI Jakarta sebagai penerima bansos yang masuk ke daftar pemain judi online period tahun 2024. Total nominal transaksi judol dari kelompok ini sejumlah Rp67 miliar dalam 397 ribu kali transaksi sepanjang tahun 2024, ujar Ivan.

Lebih luas, PPATK menemukan bahwa total terdapat 602,419 warga DKI Jakarta dari seluruh wilayah kota dan kabupaten administrasi yang diidentifikasi sebagai pemain judi online pada tahun yang sama.

"The total nominal transactions of online gambling deposits reached IDR 3.12 trillion in 17.5 million transactions," he said.

Meanwhile, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is currently re-evaluating the distribution of social assistance, especially for residents who are indicated to be active in online gambling practices.

"Social assistance is intended for residents who really need it. If an online gambling practice is found, assistance will be transferred to other residents who need it more," said DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung, Saturday, July 26.