The soccer World Cup will trigger an “explosion” of online gambling in Indonesia, police in the country have warned.
All forms of sports betting are illegal in Indonesia. But despite numerous crackdowns, scores of offshore gambling portals continue to offer sports betting services to Indonesian residents.
Soccer remains by far and away the most popular sport in Indonesia. And, historically, betting has surged ahead of major competitions (such as the World Cup) and games involving the Indonesian national team.
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) expects the upcoming World Cup to be no exception. The tournament kicks off on June 11, with a flurry of betting-related developments already unfolding worldwide.
In a press conference, Polri chiefs called on the public to report World Cup-themed online gambling operators via a dedicated hotline.
Courts have the power to jail illegal sports gamblers for up to five years and fine them up to $66,000.
Judges can also jail operators and promoters for up to 10 years, and fine them up to $660,000.
Illegal sports betting platforms typically offer punters odds on Indonesian Super League and national team matches, as well as major European leagues such as the English Premier League.
Illegal Gambling: A World Cup ‘Explosion’ on Its Way?
Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, Head of Polri’s Public Information Bureau, said: “We must jointly anticipate [a rise in] soccer gambling. We must not allow [bad actors] to exploit excitement about the World Cup to promote illegal activities that could cause losses.”
Polri officials also warned citizens not to create social unrest during the World Cup, the Indonesian media outlet Tempo reported.
They also called on the public to avoid illegal streaming services and stay away from illicit World Cup watching parties.
Many illegal sports betting services that cater to Indonesians feature livestreams ripped from bona fide broadcasters’ feeds.
In January, a study commissioned by a US-based payments provider found 19% of people with an interest in the World Cup plan to place their first-ever online bet during the tournament.
The study found that 60% of surveyed fans in North America, Europe, and Latin America plan to bet on World Cup-related outcomes.
In US states that allow sports betting, 62% said they intend to wager on the World Cup. Almost a third of respondents in these states said that World Cup wagers would be their first bets.
Government’s ‘No Mercy’ Pledge
Meanwhile, the Indonesian government has warned it will have “no mercy” on illegal gambling operators that target minors.
“We must deal with online gambling, scams, and various crimes that target children and vulnerable groups more stringently. That applies to this year, next year, and beyond. There will be zero tolerance in this regard,” said Meutya Hafid, the country’s Minister of Communication and Digital.
The minister pledged more government support for anti-gambling crackdowns, reported the Indonesian media outlet Harian Jogja.
“Criminals now use digital solutions and advanced technology,” she said. “Therefore, we must massively strengthen the digital services we use to prosecute and monitor them.”
In Italy, courts recently fined two leading soccer players for betting on games in the league in which they played.
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