Indonesia: 571,000 Social Aid Accounts Linked to Online Gambling
Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs has revealed that 571,000 bank accounts belonging to social aid recipients were used for online gambling activities.
Scale of Misuse — Over 7.5 Million Transactions
According to data from the Ministry of Social Affairs in collaboration with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), since the beginning of 2024, more than 7.5 million transactions totaling around 1 trillion Indonesian rupiah (approximately $67 million) were made from accounts registered to welfare beneficiaries.
By cross-referencing records of 28 million welfare recipients with databases of online gambling operators, authorities identified 571,410 matches—indicating active participation in online gambling by these individuals.
How the Violations Were Uncovered
The Ministry uncovered widespread irregularities after analyzing data provided by PPATK and verifying citizens’ identification numbers (NIK). Details were reported in a VOI News article.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total aid recipients | 28 million |
| Suspicious accounts | 571,410 |
| Gambling-related transactions | 7.5 million+ |
| Total amount involved | $67 million (nearly 1 trillion rupiah) |
Response from the Minister of Social Affairs
Minister Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, announced strict action against violators. He emphasized that social aid is strictly meant for essential living needs, not gambling.
“If an account is used for gambling, the individual will be removed from the program. Social assistance is not for gambling,” the Minister stated.
Staff Under Scrutiny
The Ministry is also conducting internal checks on program facilitators of the Family Hope Program (PKH), amid concerns that some may have overlooked or even enabled the misuse.
If a PKH recipient is found gambling, their assigned facilitator will also be investigated.
Government’s Next Steps
- Re-verification of all recipient bank accounts.
- Permanent removal of offenders from welfare programs.
- Official reports have been submitted to PPATK.
- Ongoing transaction monitoring.
Minister’s Remarks
The Minister called the findings “truly shocking” and pledged that each case would be reviewed thoroughly. “If someone violates the rules, they will no longer receive aid,” he stressed.
Legal Implications
Using public assistance funds for personal purposes — especially gambling — may be classified as misuse of government resources.
Such actions violate the terms of aid distribution and deprive genuine recipients of critical support.
Conclusion
The online gambling issue among Indonesia’s welfare recipients highlights the urgent need for strict oversight of financial aid programs. Authorities are determined to tighten enforcement and eliminate fraud from the social welfare system.