{
  "id": 12609038,
  "title": "Indonesia jails 35 Indian nationals over Bali online gambling ring",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/indonesia-jails-35-indian-nationals-over-bali-online-gambling-ring",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T10:58:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2026/10/1549885/indonesia-jails-35-indian-nationals-over-bali-online-gambling-ring"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An Indonesian court sentenced 35 Indian nationals to prison on Wednesday for their role in an online gambling ring operating on the popular tourist island of Bali. Gambling is strictly prohibited in the predominantly Muslim nation, with penalties ranging from bookmakers and punters to those who advertise online gambling content. In February, police detained 39 Indians at two separate villas on Bali and charged 35 of them. They had been promoting and running transactions for an online gambling platform since late last year, arriving in Indonesia on tourist visas. Judge Putu Gde Novyartha found the men guilty in a hearing on Wednesday, handing out sentences averaging two years in prison, with two receiving two and a half years. After completing their sentences, the defendants will be deported and barred from returning to Indonesia. The operation reportedly generated up to eight billion rupiah ($450,000) monthly. Online gambling in Indonesia generated over 280 trillion rupiah ($18 billion) last year, with an estimated 12 million out of Indonesia's 287 million residents participating in the illicit activity, primarily as gamblers. In May, authorities announced they would reassess the visa-free entry policy for Southeast Asian nationals following a series of arrests of foreigners running illegal gambling and scam operations. Investigators discovered that many of those involved in a Jakarta-based gambling center had entered Indonesia using visa waivers or applied for permits upon arrival.",
  "summary": "DENPASAR: An Indonesian court sentenced dozens of Indian nationals to prison on Wednesday for their involvement in an online gambling operation on the resort island of Bali.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}