By: Dina Kahyang Putri)*
Online gambling disguised as digital games is increasingly disturbing. This mode not only targets adults but also children and teenagers. Based on government data, around 8.8 million people in Indonesia are involved in online gambling activities, with the majority of perpetrators coming from the young age group. This threat is an important warning for the public to be more vigilant against gambling disguised in the form of games that seem harmless.
The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) noted that around 80 thousand online gambling players in Indonesia are under 10 years old, a figure that reflects two percent of the total 168 million online gambling transactions in the country.
Maryati Solihah from KPAI explained that one of the strategies of online gambling perpetrators is to disguise the gambling platform as a regular game. In this way, they manage to attract the attention of children who do not understand the risks behind the game.
This phenomenon is of particular concern because of its significant impact on children’s development. Games with attractive appearance and simple mechanics are often used as a tool to trap young users.
This makes the role of parents very important in supervising their children’s digital activities. In addition, the public also needs to understand the characteristics of games that have the potential to become gambling media.
One indicator to look out for is the presence of an in-game feature that allows players to exchange digital currency, such as coins or diamonds, for real money.
The President of the Indonesian Game Association, Cipto Adiguno, highlighted the similarities between regular games and online gambling applications. According to him, the fundamental difference lies in the ability to convert in-game currency into cash. This is the main feature that distinguishes games with gambling elements from games that are truly safe.
Cipto also suggested that all game products be required to register through the Electronic System Provider (PSE) or the Indonesian Game Rating System (IGRS).
This step is considered important to tighten supervision of digital games and prevent the circulation of games containing gambling elements. He explained that the related regulations are currently being revised to increase the effectiveness of supervision.
The threat of online gambling not only affects children, but also has serious consequences for the economic conditions of the perpetrators’ families. Data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) shows that 80 percent of online gamblers come from students and college students.
Most of them make small transactions, on average under Rp100 thousand per day. However, even though the nominal transaction seems small, its impact on the family economy is very significant. Many players use up to 70 percent of their daily income to gamble, which ultimately damages the family’s welfare.
Natsir Kongah, Coordinator of the PPATK Public Relations Group, revealed that the turnover of money from online gambling in 2024 is estimated to reach IDR 900 trillion if preventive measures are not strengthened.
The figure reflects a real threat to the stability of the community’s economy. However, Natsir also noted a downward trend in online gambling activity in the same year thanks to cross-sector coordination, such as cooperation between the Police, OJK, the banking industry, and digital wallet providers.
This cross-sector collaboration demonstrates the importance of an integrated approach in addressing the threat of online gambling. In addition to regulatory efforts, educating the public is also an important step in preventing the circulation of online gambling under the guise of games. Parents need to be given an understanding of the risks and how to recognize suspicious games so they can protect their children from these dangers.
In addition to the economic impact, online gambling also contributes to broader social problems. Dependence on gambling activities can affect the mindset of the younger generation, distance them from productive values, and disrupt the stability of family life. Therefore, the public needs to raise awareness of the dangers posed by online gambling, especially in forms that are more difficult to recognize such as digital games.
It is important for the public to not only rely on the government to handle this problem, but also play an active role in preventing the spread of online gambling. Simple steps such as monitoring children’s digital activities, limiting access to games that are not officially registered, and supporting strict regulations on the digital gaming industry can have a significant impact.
Online gambling under the guise of games is a real threat that continues to grow. With increasingly sophisticated modes, the circulation of online gambling is difficult to recognize without a good understanding of its characteristics. Therefore, educating the public and strict supervision of digital games must be a top priority in efforts to protect the younger generation.
Shared awareness, support for adequate regulation, and collaboration between the government and the community are the keys to suppressing this threat. With these steps, online gambling can be minimized, so that children and the younger generation are protected from the dangers that lurk in cyberspace.
)* The author is a contributor to Persada Institute
