Former Minister Budi Arie Denies Taking 50% Cut from Gambling Ring: “We Blew It All on the Wrong Togel Numbers!”

Amid ongoing investigations, former Indonesian Minister of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo), Budi Arie, has denied allegations that he received a 50% cut from illegal online gambling operations, claiming instead: “We blew it all on the wrong togel numbers!” Budi Arie is accused of protecting illegal online gambling websites rather than banning them, with reports claiming that these sites paid him and other ministry officials regular monthly kickbacks.

“There are reports saying we received IDR 15.3 billion,” Budi Arie said. “But how could we have gotten that much, let alone a 50% share, when we kept losing it all betting on the wrong togel numbers?”

“But how could we have gotten that much, let alone a 50% share, when we kept losing it all betting on the wrong togel numbers?”

Togel, a numbers-based gambling game popular in Southeast Asia, operates in a legal gray area. Its popularity has surged with the rise of online gambling platforms in Indonesia.

“I was told to bet on number 27, based on Pak Budi Arie’s dream last night,” said a former ministry official who worked under Budi Arie and requested anonymity. “But I thought he said 72. Turns out neither number hit.”

Despite official crackdowns, many gambling websites remain active. Sources allege that Budi Arie’s reluctance to act stems from his aim to double or nothing at online blackjack and finally secure the mythical 50% share rumored in the media.

“He’s chasing that number,” said a source close to the former minister. “If the media says he made 50%, he’s going to try and actually make 50%.”