Malam mulai merangkak masuk, langit gelap tanpa bintang, hanya diterangi oleh lampu-lampu jalan yang temaram. Dodi, sopir angkot biru muda nomor 44 jurusan Kalimalang–Karet, mengemudi santai, menikmati sepinya jalanan yang mulai ditinggalkan kendaraan lain. Angkotnya berderak pelan, menyusuri pinggiran jalan Kalimalang yang sepi.
Di perempatan sebelum jembatan besar, Dodi menginjak rem. Tiba-tiba, suara ketukan terdengar dari kaca belakang angkotnya. Seorang pria berdiri di sana, melambai meminta tumpangan. Dodi melirik jam di dashboard—hampir pukul 11 malam. Seharusnya ia sudah selesai beroperasi, tapi perasaan penasaran membuatnya menghentikan angkot.
Pria itu mengenakan jaket tebal dan celana panjang, wajahnya tidak terlalu jelas terlihat dalam kegelapan. Ia masuk tanpa banyak bicara, duduk di bangku paling belakang.
“Ke arah mana, Bang?” tanya Dodi sambil melihat ke kaca spion.
“Terus aja, Bang. Saya turun di Kp. Melayu,” jawab pria itu singkat, suaranya dalam dan agak parau.
Dodi mengangguk dan kembali menjalankan angkotnya. Angin malam yang dingin mulai menyusup lewat jendela-jendela terbuka. Suasana di dalam angkot terasa hening, hanya suara mesin yang memecah keheningan. Dodi merasa ada sesuatu yang aneh dengan penumpang ini, tapi ia tidak mau terlalu memikirkannya.
Ketika angkotnya mulai melewati tikungan tajam menuju daerah yang lebih gelap, perasaan tidak enak semakin menguat. Setiap kali ia melirik kaca spion, pria itu tampak duduk diam, tanpa bergerak sedikit pun. Matanya tetap terarah lurus ke depan, tanpa menatap keluar jendela seperti penumpang pada umumnya.
Saat mendekati pasar malam yang masih ramai, angkot berhenti karena lampu merah. Beberapa orang menunggu di pinggir jalan, dan salah satunya melambaikan tangan untuk naik. Seorang wanita muda dengan wajah lesu masuk ke dalam angkot, duduk di dekat pintu. Ia menghela napas panjang, menandakan kelelahan setelah seharian bekerja di pasar.
Tanpa banyak bicara, Dodi kembali menjalankan angkotnya. Jalanan mulai kembali lengang, hanya sesekali mobil lewat. Wanita itu memandang keluar, sementara penumpang misterius di bangku belakang tetap diam. Namun, yang membuat Dodi merasa tidak nyaman adalah perubahan suasana di dalam angkot. Meski dua penumpang berada di dalam, suasana terasa sepi dan mencekam.
Dodi tidak bisa menghilangkan perasaan aneh itu. Matanya kembali melirik kaca spion, berharap menemukan sesuatu yang bisa menjelaskan perasaannya. Namun, yang membuat jantungnya berdetak lebih cepat, pria misterius itu tidak lagi terlihat di kaca spion.
Dodi langsung mengerem angkotnya. Ia menoleh ke bangku belakang, namun tak ada siapa-siapa. Bangku itu kosong, seolah tak pernah ada yang duduk di sana.
“Wah, kemana perginya orang tadi?” gumamnya panik.
Wanita muda yang duduk di depan ikut menoleh ke belakang, bingung melihat reaksi Dodi. “Kenapa, Bang? Ada apa?”
Dodi menelan ludah, mencoba menenangkan diri. “Nggak, nggak apa-apa. Tadi ada penumpang di belakang… tapi sekarang hilang.”
Wanita itu terdiam sesaat, matanya mengarah ke bangku belakang yang kosong. “Bang, dari tadi saya naik… nggak ada siapa-siapa selain kita berdua.”
Ucapan itu membuat Dodi merinding. Ia yakin pria itu tadi ada di bangku belakang. Tapi, sekarang semuanya tampak tidak masuk akal. Keringat dingin mulai mengalir di pelipisnya.
Setelah peristiwa itu, Dodi berusaha tetap tenang dan melanjutkan perjalanan. Namun, sepanjang jalan, pikirannya terus berputar, mencoba mencari penjelasan logis. Ia memandang wanita yang duduk di depannya melalui kaca spion, tapi entah kenapa perasaannya semakin aneh. Wanita itu, sejak naik, tidak pernah menatapnya langsung.
Akhirnya, mereka tiba di terminal Kp. Melayu. Wanita itu turun tanpa bicara, meninggalkan Dodi yang masih terdiam di kursi kemudi. Namun sebelum Dodi sempat berpikir lebih jauh, wanita itu menoleh ke arahnya dan mengucapkan sesuatu yang membuat darahnya membeku.
“Bang, hati-hati kalau lewat daerah Cipinang tengah malam. Sudah sering ada yang bilang angkot 44 suka ada penumpang yang nggak pernah sampai tujuan.”
Dodi hanya bisa tertegun, sementara wanita itu menghilang di balik kerumunan orang. Tiba-tiba, ingatan akan pria misterius di bangku belakang kembali menghantam pikirannya. Malam semakin larut, dan suasana terminal semakin sunyi.
Tanpa berpikir panjang, Dodi memutuskan untuk segera pulang. Ia menjalankan angkotnya dengan kecepatan lebih tinggi dari biasanya, ingin cepat sampai rumah. Namun saat memasuki jalur balik ke Kalimalang, suara ketukan terdengar lagi dari kaca belakang.
Kali ini, Dodi tidak berani menoleh. Jantungnya berdetak kencang, dan tangannya gemetar memegang kemudi. Suara ketukan itu semakin keras, seolah ada seseorang yang mendesak ingin masuk. Tapi Dodi tetap fokus pada jalanan di depannya, tidak berani melihat ke kaca spion.
Ketika akhirnya ia sampai di rumahnya, Dodi memarkir angkot dengan cepat dan keluar tanpa menengok ke belakang. Ia berlari ke dalam rumah, menutup pintu dengan keras dan mengunci semua jendela.
Esok paginya, Dodi menceritakan pengalaman malam itu kepada teman-temannya sesama sopir angkot. Sebagian besar dari mereka hanya tertawa, menganggap Dodi terlalu lelah dan mulai berhalusinasi. Namun, ada seorang sopir tua yang mendengarkan dengan serius, lalu berkata dengan nada pelan.
“Kalau yang Bang Dodi ceritain itu benar, berarti kita semua harus lebih hati-hati. Beberapa tahun lalu, ada kecelakaan di jalur Cipinang Muara. Satu angkot nomor 44 terperosok ke kali, dan sopirnya nggak pernah ditemukan.”
Dodi hanya bisa terdiam mendengar cerita itu. Seketika, ia teringat wajah pria misterius yang tadi malam naik di bangku belakang. Pria yang kini ia sadari, mungkin tidak pernah benar-benar ada… atau justru sudah terlalu lama ada di sana.
Meski demikian, satu hal yang membuatnya tertawa kecil di akhir cerita, saat ia membuka dompet semalam dan melihat uang yang ditinggalkan pria misterius itu. Sebuah uang kertas lusuh, dengan tulisan “mainan anak-anak.”
His last major activity was heading the Hoover Commission, under
Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower, which aimed
at streamlining the federal bureaucracy. The man who had
enjoyed a worldwide reputation as a humanitarian now appeared heartless and cruel.
As the Depression worsened, banks and other businesses collapsed
and poverty stalked the land, and the American people
began to blame Hoover for the calamity. The outreach to Soviet Russia garnered Hoover much criticism, but
he defended his actions on humanitarian grounds, saying, “Twenty million people are starving. Amid the streams, woodlands, and rolling hills around West Branch, Iowa, the young Hoover enjoyed an almost idyllic childhood—until age six, when his father died from heart disease and, four years later, his mother died of pneumonia orphaning Herbert, his older brother, Theodore, and younger sister, Mary. The reforms also strengthen inspectors’ powers and allow them to interview minors and excluded people found on casino premises. Under the reforms, casino operators must also notify other casino operators about people they exclude from gambling.
Live dealer tables provide an immersive bridge between online and land-based gaming, allowing players connected to The Star Brisbane online casino to enjoy authentic table gameplay from anywhere. Online slots allow players to enjoy casino-style gameplay anytime, often with promotions, free spins and new releases added regularly. These additional mechanics often include special symbols, multipliers and interactive mini-games, adding more excitement and variety to every spin on the casino floor. Many electronic gaming machines feature engaging bonus rounds, free spins and progressive jackpot systems that can significantly increase potential payouts.
Queensland’s Casino Control Act 1982 was amended in March 2024 to include specific measures to minimise gambling harm and prevent money laundering. 11.4 Are there any other proposed reforms in your jurisdiction relating to competition litigation? 11.3 What approach has been taken to implement the Representative Actions Directive in your jurisdiction and what impact is it having or expected to have on competition litigation before national courts? The Directive on Antitrust Damages Actions does not apply in Australia and has not been considered by Australian courts. How has the Directive been applied by the courts in your jurisdiction?
If getting your winnings fast is your main priority, it’s also worth comparing the best payout casinos. In 2026, cryptocurrency remains the preferred option for fast payouts and added privacy, while e-wallets continue to be popular for their convenience. At crypto casinos, you can verify the results of BGaming’s provably fair games, including Aviamasters and Space XY, independently, adding an extra layer of trust. This provider is one of the early adopters of provably fair gaming and is a favourite at any crypto-friendly Australian online casino for real money.
The Gambling harm action plan 2026–28 is a shared plan of action for government, industry and the community to reduce harm from gambling and support people struggling with gambling-related issues. Your involvement will help us develop policies and initiatives and make changes that meet people’s needs. We’re looking for people who’ve been negatively impacted by gambling (either through their own gambling or someone else’s).
For visiting players it offers the convenience of being within walking distance of South Bank, Queen Street Mall, and riverside bars, making it easy to combine a casino session with broader city sightseeing. Treasury Casino (Now The Star) is housed in grand, heritage‑listed government buildings just off the Brisbane River, giving Casino Brisbane a visually striking presence that contrasts with newer glass towers in the CBD. “The whole commercial model for casinos is dependent on people who are addicted.” This follows the review, which found Star had encouraged people excluded from NSW and Victorian casinos to gamble in Queensland.
The state and/or territory taxes that apply to gambling products depend upon the relevant licence under which the product is being offered, the type of product and also the jurisdiction in which the product is offered. State and territory lotteries engage in pooling arrangements pursuant to what is known as ‘bloc agreements’, under which jackpots are pooled, making the customer offering more attractive. A casino licence permits the relevant casino to typically offer traditional table games and gaming machines. A state or territory licence is typically required to operate a bingo centre in the relevant jurisdiction. For completeness, the authors note that the list of gambling- related legislation below is not an exhaustive list. For completeness, it is worth noting that, to a lesser extent, local government bodies in most states and territories also regulate gambling from a local government and town planning perspective, but typically only as it relates to gaming machines and their operation within the relevant municipal district.
RTP is typically set at a reasonably high 97%, although volatility remains high, meaning wins are less frequent but can be larger when they land. Many crash games also include social features like live player feeds and auto cash-out tools that make sessions feel more interactive. These high-volatility titles combine simple mechanics with massive multipliers and are now a major part of the game selection at online casinos in Australia. Crash games are increasingly popular because rounds are fast, easy to follow, and designed for quick mobile sessions. Live baccarat tables often include Speed and Squeeze variants, adding different pacing and presentation styles depending on how you like to play.
References:
Star Casino
Brisbane precinct
I don’t know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else encountering issues with your blog. It looks like some of the text on your content are running off the screen. Can somebody else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This could be a problem with my web browser because I’ve had this happen before. Kudos