Twenty-four foreign suspects arrested as Facebook “live” lottery shows target players across Asia.
Indonesian cybercrime officers in Batam have dismantled a cross-border online gambling syndicate that used Facebook live streams, fake winners and digital wallets to run illegal “Hong Kong Lottery” games targeting players in multiple countries.
Facebook Livestreams Front Massive Gambling Operation
The Cyber Subdirectorate of the Riau Islands Police (Subdit Cyber Ditreskrimsus Polda Kepri) uncovered the scheme after a police report was filed on May 10, 2026. Acting on social media monitoring and public tips, officers raided two locations in Batam: Ruko Taman Niaga Block M No. 8–10 in Sukajadi and Ruko Orchard Park Business Center (OPBC) Block D2 No. 2–3. Police spokeswoman Commissioner Nona Pricillia Ohei said the group ran online gambling disguised as “live streaming” shows on Facebook, with designated hosts, operators, customer service staff and planted “fake players” to entice viewers to bet.
Foreign Syndicate Targeted Players By Language And Market
Investigators arrested 24 foreign nationals: three Cambodians, 14 Vietnamese, four Filipinos, two Chinese nationals and one Syrian, made up of both men and women in different roles. Special Crimes Director Commissioner Silvester Simamora said each nationality group focused on its home market, using native languages to reach gamblers abroad. Filipino staff targeted players in the Philippines, Vietnamese staff targeted Vietnam, and so on, while interpreters bridged communication inside the Batam call centers and with overseas networks. Police believe the operation is part of a larger, organised international syndicate.
Rigged “Hong Kong Lottery” Cards And Digital Wallet Payments
During live broadcasts, hosts displayed dragon-themed game cards in yellow, red and black, each hiding a specific bet amount printed on the back, from 1,000 to several thousand units. Viewers were invited to “buy” cards and place bets via digital wallets, including G-Cash for Filipino players. Silvester said the game structure was deliberately designed to make big wins nearly impossible, turning it into pure chance heavily stacked in the house’s favor. To build trust, the syndicate also used fake personas who pretended to play and claim large winnings on-air, creating a false impression of easy payouts.
False Legitimacy And Money-Laundering Probes
To appear legal, the syndicate branded its games with names like “Hong Kong Jockey Lottery Club” and claimed foreign licensing, even though no valid permits existed in Indonesia. Operators reportedly earned between HK$1,000 and HK$1,800 per month for running the livestream tables. Police said the ring had been active for about a month since April 2026. In addition to online gambling charges under Article 426(1)(a)(b)(c) of the 2023 Criminal Code, suspects are also being investigated under Article 607(1) for money laundering, which carries penalties of up to 15 years’ jail, compared with up to nine years for the gambling offences alone.
Equipment Seized And Immigration Scrutiny Tightened
From the Sukajadi site, officers seized 14 CPUs, one Wi-Fi router, 20 monitors, eight keyboards, 16 laptops, 45 mobile phones and thousands of dragon cards (8,000 yellow, 9,000 red and 7,000 black). At Orchard Park, they confiscated six CPUs, seven monitors, 43 phones and additional cards. All 24 foreign suspects have been handed to Batam Immigration’s Class I Special Office and placed in detention for visa checks and further questioning. Immigration officer Jefrico said authorities are examining how the suspects entered Indonesia, what visas they used and whether immigration laws were breached, with possible deportation and blacklisting for administrative offences and joint action with police if further crimes are established.
The Batam raids on livestream “Hong Kong Lottery” operations show how international syndicates are using social media, multilingual hosts and digital wallets to run sophisticated online gambling scams from Indonesian soil. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the case highlights the growing convergence of cybercrime, money laundering and immigration abuse in border regions, and the importance of coordinated policing and tighter visa oversight to keep such cross-border digital casinos from taking root.
Sources: Batampos (2026) , Mata Kepri (2026)
Keywords: Polda Kepri Cyber Unit, Taman Niaga Sukajadi Raid, Orchard Park Business Center, Hong Kong Lottery Livestream, Foreign Nationals Arrested, G Cash Payments
