The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry has reported a dramatic increase in the number of Indonesians moving to Cambodia, with many lured by the lucrative but illicit online gambling industry. The trend has raised concerns about online fraud and gambling scams, exacerbating Indonesia’s already critical gambling crisis.
Surge in Indonesians seeking online gambling jobs abroad:
During a recent press conference in Jakarta, Judha Nugraha, Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection, revealed that the number of Indonesians voluntarily registering with the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh surged by 638% in three years.
“Based on self-report data at the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh, 2,332 Indonesians reported in 2020. This number jumped to 17,212 in 2023,” said Judha. However, he stressed that this figure only represents those who voluntarily register, falling far short of the actual number of Indonesians in Cambodia.
Local Cambodian authorities reported that 123,000 Indonesians entered the country by September 2024. Additionally, Cambodian immigration records indicate that 89,000 Indonesians currently hold residence permits.
As Jakarta Globe reports, Judha pointed to a troubling discrepancy: “There is a significant discrepancy between Cambodia’s immigration data, which shows 89,000 Indonesians with residence permits, and the self-report data, which stands at only 17,212.”
The surge in Indonesian nationals seeking opportunities in Cambodia is closely linked to the online gambling industry. Fraudsters and operators actively recruit workers for roles managing online scams, offering promises of high salaries that attract many individuals despite the risks.
Online gambling crisis escalates in Indonesia:
Indonesia faces a mounting crisis as illegal online gambling continues to grow within its borders. The government’s Online Gambling Task Force has revealed alarming statistics, estimating that the country now has 4 million online gamblers, including vulnerable groups such as 80,000 children under 10 and 440,000 aged 11-20.
The financial impact is staggering. The Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) reported that gambling-related transactions surged from IDR 2.01 trillion (around $124.8 million) in 2017 to IDR 327 trillion in 2023. In the first nine months of 2024 alone, transactions reached IDR 280 trillion ($17.5 billion), highlighting the scale of the problem.
If this trend continues unchecked, total gambling-related funds could reach a shocking IDR 981 trillion ($61.17 billion) by the end of 2024. A significant portion of this money is believed to flow offshore, particularly to Thailand and Cambodia, where online gambling operations are more prevalent.
The increasing participation of Indonesians in Cambodia’s online gambling sector underscores the need for a united response. Judha emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in Indonesia to mitigate the problem and protect its citizens.
“Clearly, there needs to be a coordinated effort among all stakeholders in Indonesia to prevent this issue from spreading further in society,” he stated.
The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has already been working to address legal cases involving its citizens. In 2024 alone, the embassy handled 2,321 legal cases, with 77% of these incidents (1,761 cases) tied to online fraud.