Government Emphasizes Appropriate Use of Social Assistance, Urges Public to Be Aware of the Dangers of Online Gambling

By: Ahmad Ramadhan

As the year draws to a close, the government reiterates its commitment to ensuring that social assistance funds are used for their intended purpose, namely to help meet the community’s basic needs. This appeal follows increasing findings of misuse of social assistance funds for online gambling, a phenomenon deemed increasingly worrying because it targets economically disadvantaged groups. The government also continues to remind the public to be more vigilant about the existence of “kingdom groups” on Facebook affiliated with online gambling practices. These closed groups often target vulnerable users, including social assistance recipients, with the promise of instant profits that ultimately lead to losses.

The Ministry of Social Affairs, through intensive coordination with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), identified the flow of social assistance funds into illegal online gambling activities. Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf considered these findings a serious warning that social assistance programs still have opportunities for misuse. Based on data received by the ministry, social assistance recipients involved in online gambling come from diverse backgrounds, and the number is not small, necessitating systematic handling.

The government believes that the increasing involvement of social assistance recipients in online gambling is inextricably linked to the massive promotion of gambling in the digital space. Social media has become a primary channel for the dissemination of content and invitations to gamble, packaged with a narrative of convenience and the opportunity for quick profits. This pattern is considered highly dangerous because it targets individuals under economic pressure and hoping for an instant solution to escape their financial difficulties.

This phenomenon is reinforced by the PPATK’s national findings, which recorded an increasing trend in online gambling transactions in various regions. West Java is listed as the province with the highest number of online gamblers, with deposits reaching trillions of rupiah. The agency’s investigation revealed that some of the identified players were social assistance recipients. These findings were then submitted to the Ministry of Social Affairs as a basis for policy evaluation and strengthened oversight of social assistance distribution.
 
Director of Analysis and Examination II of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), Shalehuddin Akbar, emphasized that social assistance funds should be used to meet basic needs, such as food, education, and health care. Misuse of aid for illegal gambling is considered to have the potential to undermine the social safety net function of social assistance. The government believes that this practice not only violates the law but also directly impacts the welfare of recipient families, especially children and other vulnerable groups who should be protected by the state.
 
In response to this situation, the central government has begun preparing more measured and cross-sectoral strategic steps. The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs has designated West Java as a pilot province in its efforts to eradicate online gambling. By establishing the Zero Online Gambling Team, the government aims to ensure strong synergy between the central government, local governments, and law enforcement officials in suppressing the increasingly widespread practice of digital gambling.
 
Syaiful Garyadi, Assistant Deputy for Data Protection and Electronic Transactions Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, explained that the initiative was designed as a concrete step, not merely symbolic. The government is targeting West Java to become an online gambling-free region by 2026. These efforts include blocking illegal websites, taking action against gambling operators and networks, and strengthening oversight of suspicious digital transactions.

In addition to enforcement, the government also emphasizes the importance of a preventative approach through education and increasing public digital literacy. The widespread involvement of social assistance recipients in online gambling is seen as an indication that economic pressure, low financial literacy, and exposure to digital advertising can lead to impulsive behavior. Therefore, the government is encouraging the active participation of families and the surrounding community in providing understanding about the risks and long-term impacts of online gambling.

The government believes that the success of ensuring the effectiveness of social assistance cannot depend solely on state policy and oversight. Collective public awareness is a determining factor in breaking the chain of online gambling, which continues to evolve with technological advances. By understanding that online gambling is not a solution to economic difficulties, the public is expected to be more prudent in managing the assistance they receive.

The government is also conducting a comprehensive evaluation of social assistance recipient data to ensure more targeted distribution in the future.an. Data updating and matching are carried out periodically, involving local governments and utilizing an integrated information system. This step is deemed crucial to minimize the potential for misuse of social assistance, while ensuring that assistance is truly received by those in need and can have a real impact on strengthening family economic resilience.
 
Finally, the government reiterates its call to the public to increase vigilance against the activities of the Kingdom Group on Facebook and various other digital platforms affiliated with online gambling. Social assistance is expected to remain a protective instrument capable of improving welfare, not a gateway to new problems. Synergy between the state and the community is considered key to ensuring that social assistance truly provides real and sustainable benefits to the lives of recipients.
 
*) The author is a public policy observer