Indonesian President Joko Widodo has chaired a limited meeting which discussed the efforts taken to eradicate online gambling in the country on Thursday 18 April, at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Minister for Communication and Information Technology Budi Arie Setiadi, in his press statement after the limited meeting, said that the Government will form a task force to counter online gambling.

“It has been decided that within a week, we will formulate measures to form an integrated task force in order to eradicate online gambling,” Budi said.

Minister for Communication and Information Technology mentioned that forming a cross-ministries/institutions task force is aimed to handle online gambling more thoroughly, collaboratively and efficiently.

“Gambling is an illegal act based on regulations. So, we need to impose measures effectively to settle it,” Budi stated, adding that his ministry will focus on handling online gambling websites and contents, while the law enforcement officers will enforce the law.

“Our authority is only to take down the websites, while the Financial Services Authority (OJK) blocks their financial accounts, and then followed by law enforcement officers, police officers, and the public prosecution service officers,” he remarked.

Similarly, OJK’s Chairperson of Commissioner Board Mahendra Siregar also highlighted the importance of holistic measures in eradicating online gambling in Indonesia.

“Some online gambling activities are not conducted in Indonesia, some are cross-borders, some do not use bank accounts, some needs to be tracked and traced through bank accounts, including transfers and so on. So, the next layers must also be addressed, and that way it leaves no empty rooms,” Mahendra explained.

Mahendra said that according to the institution’s authority, from the end of 2023 to March 2024, OJK has blocked around 5000 bank accounts that indicate its relation to online gambling.

“So far, we have cooperated closely with Communications and Information Technology Ministry. So, if we receive a list of bank accounts suspected to be used or are being used in online gambling activities, we immediately block them, and it has reached up to 5000 bank accounts,” Mahendra mentioned.

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, is on point with its latest sharply designed game, Golden øks. This Norse-inspired adventure carries on from the popular Axe of Fortune title that hit the market at the turn of the year.

Golden øks is set against a 5×3 layout and is brought to life with a powerful soundtrack to heighten the atmosphere. Players must complete adjacent ways on the reels to win and there are 243 ways available. Symbols include a line-up of Norse fighters, wooden rönds, overflowing tankards and tree amulets.

A resplendent raven acts as the Wild and can be substituted for each of the symbols aside from the Axe Scatter symbol. Three or more Scatters will trigger the Bonus game and will be played with a maximum of 3000x. Should players find five Scatters, the Golden Axes feature will launch in which players could win up to 9999x. During the base game, there is the +25% to the bet” feature that once activated will automatically increase by 25% – doubling the chance of triggering the bonus

When the Bonus Axes and Golden Axes feature begins, players are faced with four targets set across a snowy plain. Each target is responsible for one digit of the final winning multiplier total. The furthest left target determines the lowest digit, the next targets show the following winning digits. Players must step up to the challenge of throwing the axe at the target to reveal numbers ranging from 0-9. The feature finishes when all targets are hit or when the axe misses or falls short to land in the snow. Each number is accumulated during the feature to reveal the final multiplier total. If targets are not completed, then players can purchase an extra Axe to try to hit the remaining one.

Golden øks has the Buy Bonus option. Those players with enough credit can enter into the standard or special bonus round. There is also the choice to opt for the Mystery 1/5 button that triggers a 1 in 5 chance of winning the Standard or Golden Axes game.

Sergey Chernyavski, Belatra Games’ CCO, said: “Golden øks is another shining example of the talent our games studio has in creating truly engaging games. Players love the game mechanic and the Axe bonus gives everyone a chance to hit the massive returns on offer.”

BC.GAME has secured a new gaming license that fully complies with Curacao’s updated regulatory framework, the National Ordinance for Games of Chance (LOK). This achievement reaffirms BC.GAME’s unwavering commitment to providing a secure and legally compliant gambling environment for its global user base.

Jack Dorsey, CEO of BC.GAME, said: “We are immensely grateful for Curacao’s robust regulatory framework, which has been pivotal in the gambling industry. Obtaining this license is a vital milestone in BC.GAME’s ongoing development and our commitment to providing a trustworthy and secure gambling experience.”

The introduction of the LOK legislation, designed to replace the previous National Ordinance on Offshore Games of Hazard (NOOGH) framework, has set a new precedent in the gambling license domain. Under the NOOGH regime, BC.GAME operated under a sub-license issued by Curacao Interactive Licensing NV (CIL). The new LOK framework, however, brings about significant changes, including the discontinuation of new sub-license issuance and stringent requirements for existing licensees seeking renewal.

Curacao was one of the pioneering nations in establishing regulations for gaming activities. Consequently, this small Caribbean island nation has become a hub for gaming businesses worldwide aiming to adhere to the country’s comprehensive gaming legal framework. BC.GAME has set up a local office to ensure compliance with regulations and to offer support to fulfill the requirements of the local gaming ecosystem.

Acquisition of the license, specifically designed for LOK services, coincides with BC.GAME’s efforts to enhance user trust, forge new partnerships and broaden the accessibility of its comprehensive gaming services. Obtaining licenses and ensuring compliance are crucial steps in solidifying BC.GAME’s position as a dependable and well-regulated global online gaming platform.

“Curacao is an essential first step in our broader global strategy. As we continue to accelerate our expansion, expect more exciting developments and good news in the near future,” Jack Dorsey said.