DENPASAR, Bali — Thirty-five Indian nationals have gone on trial in Indonesia after prosecutors alleged they operated an international online gambling network from two rented villas on the resort island of Bali, highlighting the growing challenge authorities face in tackling transnational cybercrime hidden behind ordinary tourist accommodations.
The defendants appeared before the Denpasar District Court on Monday, where prosecutors accused them of running online betting platforms targeting customers in India while living and working in Bali.
According to the indictment, the group allegedly transformed two private villas—one in North Kuta, Badung Regency, and another in Tabanan Regency—into operational centers for an online gambling business connected to a company based in Dubai.
“The defendants allegedly worked together to offer online gambling services to the public and made it their source of income,” prosecutor Ni Made N. Lumisensi told the court during the opening hearing.
Investigation Began with an Instagram Account
The case originated in February 2026, when Bali Police’s Cyber Crime Directorate detected an Instagram account promoting gambling websites using an Indian contact number.
Investigators traced the account to a villa in Tibubeneng, a neighborhood popular with expatriates and long-term foreign visitors in North Kuta.
A police raid on February 3 led to the arrest of 17 Indian nationals allegedly operating multiple gambling websites from the property.
Further investigation uncovered a second villa in nearby Tabanan, where authorities detained another 18 Indian nationals believed to be performing similar roles.
A Structured Operation
Prosecutors described the organization as a structured business rather than an informal gambling ring.
According to the indictment, members of the group were assigned specialized responsibilities, including processing customer deposits, handling withdrawals, managing administrative systems, and promoting gambling websites through social media platforms.
One defendant, identified as Piyush Sharma, is alleged to have coordinated daily operations, overseeing internet connectivity, computer equipment, mobile devices, and staff assignments.
Authorities say the operation managed at least seven gambling websites, with all customer transactions conducted exclusively in Indian rupees.
Players reportedly deposited between 100 and 50,000 rupees, with funds converted into virtual gaming credits used to place wagers on football, cricket, horse racing, live casino games, poker, three-card games, and slot machines.
Alleged Links to Dubai
Prosecutors told the court that the Bali-based operation was directed by a parent company headquartered in Dubai.
According to the indictment, the defendants were recruited in India before being assigned to Bali to support the company’s online gambling business.
They allegedly received monthly salaries ranging from approximately Rp5 million to Rp8 million (roughly US$300–500), depending on their roles, with payments transferred directly from the company’s overseas headquarters.
Several defendants reportedly told investigators they accepted the jobs because they had been unemployed before receiving the offers.
Bali’s Image as a Tourism Destination
While Bali welcomes millions of international visitors every year, Indonesian authorities have increasingly focused on preventing the island from being used as a base for transnational criminal activities, including cybercrime, online fraud, visa abuse, and illegal online gambling operations.
Officials stress that the investigation targets an alleged criminal enterprise rather than the wider expatriate or foreign visitor community.
The defendants are charged under Indonesia’s revised Criminal Code, which prohibits organizing or facilitating gambling activities without legal authorization.
If convicted, they could face penalties under Indonesia’s criminal laws governing illegal gambling operations.
The case remains before the Denpasar District Court, where prosecutors are expected to continue presenting evidence in the coming hearings.