DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Bali Police have uncovered and dismantled an online gambling syndicate operating from two rented villas in Bali, arresting dozens of foreign nationals who entered Indonesia under the guise of tourism.
The operation was carried out by the Cyber Crime Directorate (Ditressiber) of Bali Police on Tuesday (3/2), targeting villas located on Jalan Subak Daksina, Tibubeneng Village, North Kuta, Badung, and Jalan Raya Munggu, Cepaka Village, Tabanan. A total of 35 Indian nationals were arrested in the raids.
Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya said the investigation began on January 15, 2026, when cyber patrol officers detected social media accounts suspected of promoting online gambling websites.
“During digital forensic analysis, we identified links used for deposits, withdrawals, and customer support related to online gambling activities,” he said during a press briefing on Saturday (7/2).
Following further profiling, police traced the activity to physical locations believed to be used by operators processing financial transactions and managing online support services. Surveillance at the sites revealed suspicious activity before officers moved in to conduct the raids.
At the Tibubeneng location, police detained 17 individuals, while 18 others were arrested at the Cepaka site in Tabanan. After questioning, four individuals were found not to be involved in the gambling operation and were handed over to immigration authorities for further administrative processing.
The remaining 35 Indian nationals have been named as suspects and placed in detention. According to police, the online gambling operation generated an average monthly income of around 22,980,373 rupees, equivalent to approximately IDR 4.3 billion, at a single location. Combined revenue from both sites was estimated at around IDR 8 billion.
“The suspects promoted online gambling sites through social media accounts containing direct access links to gambling content,” Daniel said.
The suspects were responsible for handling deposits, withdrawals, and customer support using electronic devices such as laptops, desktop computers, and mobile phones, and were paid wages for their work.
Police said Bali was deliberately chosen as the operational base because of its status as an international tourist destination, which made it easier for the suspects to blend in among foreign visitors, including a large number of Indian tourists.
Evidence seized during the operation included three monitors, 42 mobile phones, 15 laptops, three desktop computers, and two routers. Daniel warned that online gambling poses serious social risks, including financial losses, increased crime driven by economic pressure, and long-term psychological harm caused by addiction.
Cyber Crime Director Senior Commissioner Aszhari Kurniawan added that the syndicate had been operating in Tabanan since November 2025, while the Tibubeneng operation began in December 2025.