TLDR Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs paused aid for 1,494,652 households linked to suspected online gambling transactions The flagged accounts were identified through data matching with the PPATK financial intelligence agency Payments through the Program Sembako food aid scheme are on hold for the third quarter pending review The number is more than double the roughly 600,000 households flagged in earlier investigations PPATK reported online gambling turnover of about $5.3 billion across 467.32 million transactions in the first half of 2026
Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs has paused welfare payments for close to 1.5 million households. The pause follows a review that flagged suspected online gambling activity tied to their accounts.
The data came from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, known as PPATK. It is Indonesia’s financial intelligence agency.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf confirmed the number. He said 1,494,652 beneficiary families were flagged based on PPATK data and that the matter is now under investigation.
What Aid Is Affected
The affected households receive support through the Program Sembako food assistance scheme. This program is also known as BPNT.
Third quarter payments for the flagged beneficiaries have been put on hold. This will remain in place until the verification process finishes.
The current number marks a sharp jump from past findings. Earlier checks found nearly 600,000 households tied to illegal online gambling.
Yusuf said the government needs to make sure aid money reaches families who need it. He said it should not end up funding illegal gambling instead.
How The Review Works
The ministry is running further checks with several partners. These include PPATK, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, and regional authorities.
The review will look at whether the gambling transactions were made by beneficiaries themselves. It will also check whether transactions happened