PPATK: Online gamblers mainly come from the lower middle class

TIME.CO, Jakarta – When Ivan Yustiavandana came to the meeting of the Legal Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives (DPR) on Wednesday, June 6, he came with piles of extensive data on online gamblers. So the head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) held nothing back when asked about the involvement of lawmakers in illegal activities. From the results of tracking 63,000 transactions worth Rp25 billion (approximately US$1.56 million), the PPATK found that more than 1,000 lawmakers were among the online gamblers.

These statistics are a small part of PPATK’s analysis. Ivan said that the majority of online players came from the lower middle class with a monthly income of no more than Rp1 million (US$62.5). In total, their transaction value amounts to Rp650 billion (US$40.62 million). “The total number of players is more than 100,000,” he said.

Ivan added that the background or profession of gamblers did not affect their gambling habit. Gamblers with a background in government service, he said, have reportedly made deposits worth Rp250 billion (US$15.62 million). The same goes for employees in the private sector and the state apparatus, such as members of the Indonesian military and national police. “They come from all walks of life,” he said.

Ivan sat down with Tempo reporters, Sunudyantoro, Linda Trianita, Yosea Arga Pramudita and Amelia Rahima Sari, at the PPATK office in Central Jakarta, on Thursday, July 4. During the more than hour-long interview, he was accompanied by the acting deputy chief of Analysis and Inspection, Danang Tri Hartono, and three members of a special team that tackles online gambling. Excerpts:

You said thousands of legislators gamble online. Who are they again?

This is a total national figure that includes members of the DPR, regional legislative councils and secretariat staff. The total is more than 1,000.

What measures have been taken?

We submitted the names to the Honorary Council of the DPR. Hadi Tjahjanto as head of the Online Gambling Eradication Task Force sent or handed over the list.

Are there any other institutions involved?

Deposits of civil servants amounted to Rp250 billion. It is estimated that there are about 14,000 players with a civil servant background. There is no data yet on employees of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) because they are mixed with those of private sector employees, the total number of which was 1,100.

Have any of your employees been caught gambling online?

None, because we have asked all our colleagues at PPATK to sign a stamped statement stating that they do not gamble online. They are prepared to be sanctioned if they do. Everyone from the management to the office boys must sign the statement.

Is it effective?

We consider it a standard commitment and integrity for all PPATK employees. We try to find out at least first within the scope of the agency. That is the message we want to convey to the public.

Online gambling has become widespread among military and police personnel. How big are the cases in these institutions?

The cases have indeed exploded. Recent phenomena, such as, excuse me, suicides and domestic violence, are the culmination of months of accumulated problems. They were no longer in the trial and error phase, but became addicted to gambling and trapped in debt. Their money is gone, which has led to these recent incidents.

Read the full interview in Tempo English Magazine