CRIME SPREE
A spate of murders, suicides and divorces linked to illegal online gambling has further cast a spotlight on the surging trade.
In June, an East Java policewoman set her husband on fire because of his gambling, while last year a 48-year-old man in Central Sulawesi robbed and killed his mother to fund his habit, according to local media reports.
Local media have also reported a spike in suicides this year by gambling addicts while Islamic courts on Java island say they are dealing with more divorce requests from women whose husbands won’t stop betting.
“Gambling puts our future at risk … also the future of our family and our children,” said President Widodo, more popularly known as Jokowi, when launching the task force.
Experts say, however, that the effort isn’t enough.
Police say they arrested 467 online gambling operators between April and June, seizing more than US$4 million in assets.
But Indonesian judges have been criticised for handing out lenient prison sentences, with operators receiving sentences ranging from seven to 18 months.
“The investigation must be extended to the big names,” said Nailul Huda, an economist from the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) research group.
“Those operators did not work alone, they answered to someone big.”
Surya, meanwhile, has quit gambling for a month and says he is committed to stopping long-term.
“Nobody is getting rich from online gambling. Now I’ve learned my lesson,” he said.
But for other addicts like Eno, breaking free from the habit is no easy feat.
“This is a stupid thing to do,” he said, “but I am addicted.”
