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Indonesia’s campaign against illegal online gambling has reached another social media influencer, with prosecutors seeking a two-year prison sentence for an Instagram user accused of promoting an unlicensed gambling website.
The case against Rahmawati Puspita Ningrum, now before a branch of the Surabaya District Court, reflects the country’s increasingly aggressive approach toward online gambling. Authorities are no longer focusing only on operators. They are also targeting the people who help drive traffic to gambling sites through social media.
Prosecutors Link Instagram Posts to Illegal Gambling
Prosecutors allege that Rahmawati used her Instagram account to direct users to an online casino, giving the public access to gambling services that operate without authorization in Indonesia, where online gambling remains illegal.
Court documents referenced by local media claim she received roughly €125 for the promotion. Prosecutors have also asked the court to impose a fine of around €6. If that amount is not paid, they want an additional month added to any prison sentence.
During a court hearing on July 21, Rahmawati appealed for leniency before sentencing.
The prosecution maintains that the case goes beyond ordinary advertising. Its argument is that the Instagram posts actively encouraged public participation in illegal gambling and were published in exchange for payment.
Investigators Trace Payments Through Digital Wallet
The investigation centers on contact that allegedly began in October 2025, when a man identified only as Justin reportedly approached Rahmawati through WhatsApp.
Police allege he offered to pay her to promote an online gambling platform known as martabak188. Rather than directing users to the main website, investigators say the campaign relied on a mirrored URL, a technique commonly used to bypass website blocks by redirecting visitors to duplicate or alternative addresses.
Authorities believe Rahmawati accepted the proposal and uploaded multiple promotional posts. According to the prosecution’s case, Justin later transferred three separate payments to her DANA digital wallet.
Cybercrime investigators traced those transactions and arrested Rahmawati on December 4, 2025, one day after what police describe as the final payment. She was taken into custody at a rumah kos, a type of boarding house widely used by students and young professionals across Indonesia.
Search Continues for Alleged Recruiter
The investigation remains open.
Police told the court they are still trying to locate Justin, who has not been arrested. His full identity has not been disclosed in court documents.
The case files also provide little personal information about Rahmawati. Local reporting noted that earlier Instagram posts dating back to 2018 showed her wearing a school uniform alongside classmates, though no official details about her age have been released.
The proceedings add to Indonesia’s broader enforcement effort against online gambling, where authorities are increasingly pursuing not only the platforms themselves but also the online personalities accused of helping them reach new audiences.
Source: igamingexpress.com
