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Bali’s relaxed tourist image was shaken after police revealed an online gambling hub allegedly run by 39 Indian nationals from rented villas on the island. What seemed like regular tourist stays turned into a full-scale cybercrime case once investigators connected social media activity to real-world locations.
The case started in January 2026, when Bali Police were monitoring social media and came across an Instagram account under the name “Rambetexchange.” The operation was actively promoting an online gambling site called Ram Betting Exchange, with posts that contained links for deposits, withdrawals, and gambling assistance. From there, the police started digging deeper into who was behind the operation of the page and where it was being conducted from.
From Instagram Trail to Villa Raids
The police were eventually able to track down the operation to 2 villas in Bali. One of the villas was situated on Subak Daksina Street in Tibubeneng, Badung, while the other was on Jalan Raya Munggu in Kediri, Tabanan. After conducting surveillance and initial interrogations, the police team decided to take action. On February 3, they raided the two villas, arrested the people inside, and seized equipment that was believed to be used in the gambling operation.
During a press conference held at the Bali Police headquarters, Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya, along with Cybercrime Director Commissioner Aszahri Kurniawan, discussed the developments in the case. Of the 39 Indian nationals who were arrested, 35 have already been charged and are currently under arrest. The remaining 4 are still being treated as witnesses while the police are still investigating their involvement.
Earnings, Visas, and Possible Regional Links
Police estimates suggest the gambling operation was earning significant amounts every month. Bali Police placed the group’s monthly revenue at around Rp 7 billion to Rp 8 billion, equal to roughly $413,000–$472,000. Each villa was making around Rp 4.3 billion every month, indicating a busy stream of activities with regard to gambling, all taking place at only two locations.
The arrests were made with the observation that the suspects arrived with valid visas, mingling with other Indians entering Indonesia on a large scale, particularly to Bali. The police suspect that they tried to conceal their presence and movements by employing a large number of tourists, even though the online platform mainly targeted foreigners. Commissioner Kurniawan has said that they are currently trying to investigate possible connections with other online groups operating in the country.
Devices Seized and Laws Applied
In the raids, the officers recovered a haul of electronics considered crucial to the activities of the group. Some of the electronics seized include four computer monitors, fifteen laptops, two routers, and seventy-three cellphones. These devices are expected to provide digital evidence on how the Ram Betting Exchange site was managed, who the clients were, and how money moved through the system.
The suspects now face charges under Indonesia’s 2024 Electronic Information and Transactions Law. If they are found guilty, they face a sentence of a maximum of 9 years behind bars and a fine that could go up to Rp 200 million.
Next Steps in the Investigation
For now, Bali Police are focused on building the case using both physical and digital evidence from the villas. They are also trying to determine if there was any connection to an external network outside of Indonesia. While 35 suspects are currently in custody and 4 are still being investigated as witnesses, the case is a reminder that online gambling, no matter how discreetly conducted through tourist visas and rented villas, is still very much on the radar of the Indonesian authorities.
Source: Jakarta Globe
