Professor proposes legalising casinos in Indonesia for foreigners
An Indonesian academic has proposed legalising casinos exclusively for foreign nationals in special economic zones, citing potential economic benefits.
Indonesia.- A professor from STIE Ekuitas has suggested that Indonesia should legalise casinos for foreign nationals in locations such as Batam or Bali. Speaking during a public discussion in Bekasi, West Java, Vidya Ramadhan suggested the country adopt regulatory frameworks similar to those in countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia.
As reported by ANTARA News, he said: “When viewed from an economic aspect, it cannot be denied that this activity has a positive impact in the short term, but it needs to be regulated so that it does not harm the community.”
Legally, he suggested such a move might be possible if the venues were located in special economic zones. Ramadhan said implementation would have to avoid affecting the domestic population’s spending power and ensure clear revenue collection mechanisms.
International relations expert Hikmahanto Juwana has also voiced support for regulated land-based casinos under strict government control and member of parliament Galih Kartasasmita recently questioned how an Islamic country like United Arab Emirates could explore casino operations while Indonesia wasn’t.
Earlier this week, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) announced that more than 28,000 bank accounts in Indonesia were frozen by police in 2024 due to alleged links with online gambling. Director Ivan Yustiavandana said many were part of a scheme involving the buying and selling of accounts.
He said the accounts, some of which had previously been dormant, were frequently used to deposit funds for illegal gambling as well as to launder money from other criminal activities, such as fraud and drug trafficking.
Gambling in the United Arab Emirates
In September 2023, the United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) was established to regulate lotteries, internet gaming, sports wagering, and land-based gaming. In July 2024, it granted its first casino licence to Wynn Resorts for Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. MGM Resorts has also applied for a casino licence. In April of this year, the regulator issued vendor licences to Novomatic and EQL Games.
