Two suspects face charges over 200,000 automated accounts as investigators track players nationwide.
Riau Islands police are expanding their investigation into a large online gambling operation in Batam, after uncovering a bot-driven system running more than 200,000 accounts on popular casino-style games.
Two Suspects Named As Gambling Probe Expands
The Riau Islands Police Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum Polda Kepri) is continuing to develop its case against a large-scale online gambling ring based in Batam. Director of General Crime Investigation Commissioner Ronni Bonic said two suspects have so far been formally named: TN and RS. TN is alleged to be the main organiser running the gambling system, while RS is accused of acting as both a player and a reseller of gaming chips. “For now there are two suspects: one as organiser, and one as player as well as chip seller. The investigation is still ongoing,” Ronni said on May 11.
Nationwide Web Of Players Beyond Riau Islands
Ronni stressed that police have not ruled out involvement by additional parties, as preliminary findings indicate that the illegal gambling activity drew players from across Indonesia. “There is involvement from outside the region as well. From our initial probing, players are not only from Kepri, but also from Kalimantan, Java and several other areas,” he said. Investigators are currently focused on completing case files for TN and RS and have already sent a Notification of Commencement of Investigation (SPDP) to public prosecutors, while continuing to trace account flows and communication links that point to wider networks.
Nongsa Raid Exposes Automated Gambling Room
The case began when the Directorate uncovered an online gambling base operating out of a house in Nongsa, Batam. Acting on a public tip in early March 2026, Subdirectorate III Jatanras officers conducted surveillance and eventually raided the property. Inside, they found a dedicated room serving as the control centre for Joker King and Bearfish Casino games. Nineteen CPUs with monitors, internet networking equipment and multiple mobile phones were seized, all configured to support automated play and remote account management, according to police spokesperson Commissioner Nona Pricillia Ohei.
More Than 200,000 Bot-Driven Casino Accounts
Examination of the seized systems revealed that TN allegedly controlled about 31,000 Joker King accounts and more than 181,000 Bearfish Casino accounts. These accounts were run through automated bot software designed to play continuously and accumulate large amounts of in-game chips. Once generated, the chips were consolidated and sold to other gamblers via instant messaging apps, with payments handled through digital wallets. This structure allowed the operation to appear as tens of thousands of individual users, while in reality being orchestrated from a single technical hub.
Chip Reseller RS And Ongoing Legal Process
Further investigation led to the arrest of RS in Bengkong. Police say RS used 13 different accounts to participate in the games and then resold chips he had bought from TN to downstream players for profit. Both suspects are being charged under Articles 426 and 427 of the new Criminal Code (Law No. 1 of 2023), as well as Article 27(2) of the amended Electronic Information and Transactions Law (Law No. 1 of 2024), which covers distributing or making accessible gambling content online. Ronni said the investigation is still being expanded to uncover any additional networks or financiers behind the operation.
The unfolding Batam online gambling case, centred on a bot farm of more than 200,000 casino-style accounts, shows how digital platforms, automation and e-wallets are being combined to industrialise illegal betting across Indonesia. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the probe underscores the importance of coordinated cybercrime enforcement, digital payment monitoring and public reporting in dismantling complex, tech-enabled gambling syndicates that reach far beyond their physical base.
Sources: Batampos (2026) , Polri (2026)
Keywords: Ditreskrimum Polda Kepri, TN Main Operator, RS Chip Reseller, Joker King Accounts, Bearfish Casino Network, KUHP And ITE Charges
