Kepri investigators seize bot network running over 200,000 gaming accounts and arrest two suspects.
A large-scale online gambling operation in Batam that used bots and dozens of computers to run hundreds of thousands of gaming accounts has been dismantled by Riau Islands police.
Bot-Controlled Gambling Hub Raided In Nongsa
The Riau Islands Police Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) uncovered the scheme after a public tip-off in early March 2026. Subdirectorate III Jatanras traced activity to a house in Nongsa used as an operational center and arrested a suspect identified as TN. According to police spokesman Commissioner Nona Pricillia Ohei, officers found a dedicated control room where TN ran online gambling platforms Joker King and Bearfish Casino using multiple computers connected to automated systems.
Hundreds Of Thousands Of Accounts Under One System
Inside the room, 19 active CPUs and monitors were linked through a shared internet network and configured with bot software to control thousands of accounts simultaneously. Investigators say TN managed about 31,000 Joker King accounts and more than 181,000 Bearfish Casino accounts. These accounts were used to generate game chips, which were then consolidated into a few main “collector” accounts to boost rankings and attract buyers, indicating a highly organized digital gambling farm rather than ordinary play.
Chips Sold Through Messaging Apps And E-Wallets
Police allege that TN sold chips harvested from the automated accounts to other gamblers. Transactions were coordinated over instant messaging apps, with payments made through digital wallets. Commissioner Pricillia said the operation generated profits in the hundreds of millions of rupiah. Officers found around Rp60 million in a bank account belonging to TN, believed to be proceeds from chip sales and used to fund operations such as computer purchases and network costs.
Second Suspect Acted As Player And Reseller
Further investigation led police to a second suspect, RS, who was arrested in Bengkong. Director of General Crime Investigation Commissioner Ronni Bonic said RS acted both as a player and a chip reseller, buying chips from TN and selling them on to others at a markup. RS used 13 different accounts to play and trade, purchasing chips worth millions of rupiah and reselling a portion for profit. His role illustrates how the bot-driven hub fed a broader resale network that funneled illegal gaming currency to end users.
Integrated Crackdown On Large-Scale Gambling Network
The seized hardware, including computers, network equipment and mobile phones, points to an integrated system designed to automate play, aggregate winnings and monetize virtual chips. While legal proceedings are ongoing, police say the case shows how online gambling operations can scale through bots and digital payments while appearing as many separate players. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, especially given Batam’s proximity to regional data and financial hubs, the bust highlights how law enforcement is adapting to complex, tech-enabled gambling networks that cross both physical and digital borders.
The Batam gambling hub taken down by Riau Islands police reveals a sophisticated use of bots, thousands of dummy accounts and digital wallets to turn online games into a large underground business. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, it underscores the need for close cooperation between cybercrime units, financial watchdogs and telecom operators to detect unusual traffic patterns, follow the money and shut down similar schemes before they grow into entrenched criminal enterprises.
Sources: Batampos (2026) , Muria Network (2026)
Keywords: Joker King Accounts, Bearfish Casino Bot, Polda Kepri Investigation, Nongsa Raid, Chip Reseller RS, Digital Wallet Payments
