By: Sadewa Lingga Hutama )*
Online gambling is now a growing problem, threatening not only the economy but also morals and social issues in society, especially the younger generation. This practice is a real threat to social stability and national unity, considering its damaging impact on moral values and causing damage to family and community life.
In this regard, the Indonesian government, under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, has shown a strong commitment to addressing the problem of online gambling , recognizing that online gambling is not just an economic issue but also a deep problem related to the character of the nation.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Abdul Mu’ti, also highlighted the rampant phenomenon of online gambling , especially among students. According to him, online gambling is not only financially detrimental, but also has a serious impact on students’ mental health. Addiction to gambling can disrupt their psychological development, damage their focus on learning, and cause increased anxiety and stress.
The impact of online gambling , according to him, can cause wider social disruption, create a wrong mindset about how to get money and damage the positive values that should be possessed by the next generation of the nation. With data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) 2024 stating that around 440,000 Indonesian students are exposed to online gambling , this problem is becoming increasingly urgent to be addressed immediately.
President Prabowo Subianto, on various occasions, emphasized that online gambling damages not only the economy, but also the nation’s morality and civilization. The government, with the support of various parties, has initiated various steps to overcome the negative impacts caused by this gambling, both directly and indirectly. One of them is through the launch of the 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children Movement program designed to shape the character of the nation’s children.
The 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children Movement Program includes simple but fundamental habits such as waking up early, praying, exercising, eating healthily, and studying that can protect the younger generation from negative influences, including online gambling .
Not only in the realm of education, the government is also taking concrete steps to combat online gambling through the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kemkomdigi). The Director of Information and Communication for Human Development and Culture of the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi), Bambang Dwi Anggono, through the PIC for Communication Management in the Education and Culture Sector, Lukman Taufiq, said that online gambling is a serious threat to the younger generation.
Through initiatives involving the blocking of more than 5.2 million online gambling content since 2017, Kemkomdigi has played an active role in combating this damaging illegal access. Kemkomdigi has also established reporting channels such as aduankonten.id and cekrening.id which allow the public to report suspicious content or activities. These steps, although not yet completely eliminating online gambling practices , show the government’s seriousness in creating a healthy and safe digital space.
However, preventing online gambling is not only the government’s responsibility. Collaboration between various elements of society, educational institutions, and the media is needed to overcome this problem. Lukman emphasized that it is important for the community to be involved in this effort, especially by increasing digital literacy.
That way, people, especially the younger generation, can be wiser in using technology and avoid the existing traps, including online gambling . Without a strong understanding of the dangers of online gambling , it is difficult for people to protect themselves from this threat.
In addition, the social impact of online gambling is also very large. Addiction to gambling can drive individuals to take extreme measures, such as borrowing money illegally through online loans (Pinjol), which ultimately worsens their financial condition and increases the risk of poverty. This often triggers quarrels in families, destroying relationships that should be full of love and support.
Conflicts that are often triggered by financial problems, lead to wider social damage, even to the level of criminality. For example, the need to pay debts or pursue profits from gambling often drives individuals to commit crimes, such as theft and fraud.
On the economic side, money that should be used for productive activities is instead circulating in illegal activities such as online gambling . This is detrimental to the wider economy, because money circulating in the legitimate economy cannot develop, while the economic sector that should be more supportive of national growth is actually disrupted.
Facing such a complex problem, the Indonesian government needs to continue and strengthen the steps that have been taken. Stricter law enforcement against online gambling organizers, including cutting off the financial networks that support them, and blocking access to online gambling sites must be strengthened.
The government must also work with banks and financial applications to close accounts used for gambling transactions, and ensure that these preventive measures are implemented effectively.
The government, with all the efforts made, must receive full support from all elements of society to overcome the serious threat of online gambling and create a more prosperous Indonesia free from the negative impacts of online gambling .
)* The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Gold Forum
