DENPASAR (Bernama-ANTARA): Bali Police have busted an online gambling syndicate operated by Indian nationals from two villas in the province, arresting 39 Indian suspects during the operation, reported ANTARA news agency.
"Following further investigations, 35 individuals were named suspects, while the other four remain witnesses,” Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya told a press conference here on Saturday.
He said that the arrests were made following an intensive probe by the local police's Cyber Criminal Investigation Agency of a suspected online gambling syndicate operating in the province.
Inspector General Adityajaya said that on January 15, cyber-patrol officers detected an Instagram account, @Rambetexchange, which was promoting the online gambling platform Ram Betting Exchange.
A cyber-forensics investigation later confirmed that the site provided full online gambling services, including deposit and withdrawal facilities, as well as operational support.
Following the discovery, police identified two villas in Badung and Tabanan districts suspected of being used by the operators. A coordinated raid was carried out on February 3, resulting in arrests and the seizure of evidence.
"Based on our findings, each location is estimated to generate revenues of up to Rp4.3 billion (US$255,000) per month. Combined, the two sites are projected to generate between Rp7 billion and Rp8 billion (US$415,200-474,000) in monthly revenue," he noted.
The suspects are also believed to have violated immigration regulations, as they were found to have entered Indonesia on tourist visas but were instead working in Bali as online gambling operators.
Meanwhile, Bali Police's cybercrime investigation agency director, Senior Commissioner Aszhari Kurniawan, said that the Indian nationals had been working since November 2025 to promote and operate the online gambling site.
"They were tasked to manage deposits, withdrawals, and provide supporting services using electronic devices," Kurniawan said.
He added that investigators found most visitors and users of the raided online gambling site were Indian nationals, indicating that the platform specifically targeted Indian tourists visiting Bali.
The arrested Indian nationals, all of whom were unemployed in their home country, were recruited by a fellow Indian who offered them a monthly wage of Rp5 million (US$296).
The senior commissioner also said that during the raids, police confiscated three computer units, 42 mobile phones, 15 laptops, and two internet routers.
The suspects will be charged under Article 27(2) in conjunction with Article 45(3) of the Information and Electronic Transactions Law on online gambling, as well as Article 426(1) of the Criminal Code on gambling.
The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of up to nine years and fines of up to Rp200 million (US$11,865). -- Bernama-ANTARA
