Asian regulators strengthen iGaming payment oversight

Indonesia blocks thousands of gambling-linked accounts

Indonesia has taken strong action against gambling payments. The financial regulator, Otoritas Jasa Keuangan, asked banks to block thousands of accounts linked to online gambling.

Between September 2023 and December 2025, banks froze 31,382 accounts. Officials believe these accounts helped move money for gambling activity.

The program also involved the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs. Authorities say the campaign is part of long-term supervision — not a one-time crackdown.

Data from PPATK shows the market may already be changing. Online gambling turnover reached IDR 155 trillion by the third quarter of 2025. However, the figure shows a 57 percent drop from the year before.

India blocks offshore gambling websites

India has been keen on preventing entry into offshore casinos. The government blocked hundreds of websites in the course of the investigations.

The Directorate General of GST Intelligence confirmed that 357 URLs were blocked. The officials claim that there are still 700 offshore operators under investigation.

The powers employed by authorities were under Information Technology Act 2000. This legislation enables the authorities to block Internet-based services that violate local regulations.

India’s policy mainly targets tax and legal compliance. Licensed domestic casinos that follow tax rules appear unaffected. Still, blocking websites affects payments — users cannot easily add funds to offshore accounts.

Philippines and Singapore tighten payment rules

Other Asian markets are also increasing financial checks. In the Philippines, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas released draft rules for payment providers that process gambling payments.

Under the proposal, payment firms cannot link directly to casino websites. They must also check users carefully and watch for unusual transactions.

Singapore already has strong powers in place. The Monetary Authority of Singapore can issue payment blocking orders under the Remote Gambling Act 2014.

Even when these powers are not used often, they still affect how companies act — firms try to avoid regulatory risk early.

Casinos adjust payment systems under new pressure

Licensed casinos are changing how they manage payments. Many companies now work with several banks and payment partners.

Industry executive Ariyo Aboumahboub from Infinite Pecunia Solutions said companies now watch payment activity more closely. Many firms review transactions every day instead of checking only when users join.

Several trends now shape the industry:

• casinos spread payments across several banking partners

• payment firms watch daily transaction activity more closely

• banks review gambling payments with greater caution

Payment systems are now a key focus for regulators — and companies know it. Across Asia, many authorities share the same idea. Control the money flow — and the gambling market may change.