JAKARTA, thekabarnews.com—The National Development Planning Ministry/National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) warned that the online gambling habits of Indonesian civil servants (ASN) could threaten the integrity of the bureaucracy. Employee productivity and the foundations of national development could also be threatened.

Bappenas Minister Rachmat Pambudy issued the warning during an online event Tuesday, July 28. This event discussed the prevention and handling of online gambling and problematic digital lending among ASNs.

According to the data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), 51,611 central and regional government employees had been identified as suspected online-gambling participants in 2023–2024.

“ASNs are the backbone of national development. If they become involved and this leads to inappropriate and harmful behavior, it is a warning sign that we must address early,” said Rachmat.

PPATK identifies suspected gambling activities through monitoring of financial flow through bank accounts, electronic wallets and digital payment systems. It can match transaction patterns to names and National Identity Numbers (NIK).

“PPATK can detect almost all online-gambling players, including civil servants. We can also identify students, university students, police officers and military personnel,” said PPATK official Mohammad Akbar Salehuddin.

“We have data by name and NIK, including the number and value of their transactions,” he added.

The financial-intelligence findings don’t necessarily lead to criminal convictions.

The state bodies concerned should verify the information and conduct disciplinary checks. Law-enforcement bodies should handle criminal proceedings.

PPATK can provide the detailed data to government institutions for employee supervision, counselling or disciplinary action.

The bureaucracy is nothing compared to gambling online. PPATK noted 12.3 million people who made gambling deposits in 2025 through banks, e-wallets and QRIS payments.

The users deposited Rp36.01 trillion through 389.1 million deposit transactions. Online gambling-related funds’ total movement or turnover was considerably higher, at Rp286.84 trillion, with 422.1 million transactions.

Revenue declined 20% to Rp359.81 trillion in 2024, and deposits dropped to Rp51.3 trillion. PPATK’s official 2025 performance report attributed the decline to the government’s collaboration with private financial-service providers.

The decline in value notwithstanding, the number of depositors and the increasing use of QRIS demonstrate the continued reach of illegal gambling platforms.

Ministerial Circular No. 5/2024 states that the government has prohibited civil servants from online gambling.

The policy requires supervisors to investigate indications of gambling. It allows for light, moderate or severe disciplinary penalties depending on the effect of the violation.

The Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry also said authorities could temporarily suspend employees arrested as criminal suspects or defendants.

Bappenas called on the government to strengthen financial literacy, early intervention, and internal supervision on a regular basis. The goal is that online gambling would not undermine public services and the public trust in government institutions.