Jakarta. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) has reported a surge in financial activity linked to online gambling during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with detected deposits reaching Rp1.02 trillion ($55.7 million) between mid-June and July.

The transactions were recorded as online gambling networks sought to capitalize on heightened public interest in football during the tournament, PPATK said in an analysis of financial transactions.

The agency detected 6 million deposit transactions during the period and temporarily halted 2,815 accounts suspected of being linked to online gambling. The accounts held a combined balance of Rp325.43 billion.

PPATK's broader comparison of the first half of 2025 and 2026 showed a shift in online gambling transaction patterns.

The total value of funds circulating through suspected online gambling transactions fell 12.9% to Rp86.82 trillion in the first half of 2026 from Rp99.68 trillion a year earlier. However, the number of transactions surged 167.2% to 467.32 million from 174.90 million.

Total deposits rose 26% to Rp22.05 trillion from Rp17.50 trillion, while the number of deposit transactions jumped 140% to 226.76 million from 94.50 million.

PPATK said the sharp increase in transaction frequency did not necessarily indicate equivalent growth in online gambling activity. It also reflected improvements in the detection of suspicious financial transactions and greater participation by reporting institutions.

At the same time, online gambling networks have increasingly adapted by breaking payments into smaller amounts and making transactions more frequently, making them harder to identify, the agency said.

QRIS Emerges as Main Deposit Channel
QRIS, Indonesia's national QR-based payment system, was the most widely used channel for online gambling deposits during the first half of 2026.

Transactions through QRIS totaled Rp12.36 trillion, accounting for 56.04% of total deposit value. By transaction volume, QRIS accounted for 198.77 million deposits, or 87.66% of all deposit transactions.

Banks and digital wallets accounted for a combined Rp9.69 trillion in deposits across 27.99 million transactions.

PPATK stressed that QRIS itself was not responsible for the growth in online gambling. The system is a legitimate payment infrastructure widely used by consumers and businesses in Indonesia.

The agency said the focus should instead be on gambling networks that abuse legitimate merchants, identities and transaction purposes to disguise illegal payments.

"QRIS provides major benefits to the people's economy. What must be fought is not the payment technology, but those who misuse it to disguise illegal transactions," PPATK Chairman Ivan Yustiavandana said.

Separately, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) has blocked 36,191 bank accounts suspected of being connected to online gambling, up from 33,836 accounts previously identified.

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