By: Aldo Setiawan Fikri*
The phenomenon of online gambling in Indonesia has developed into a serious threat, especially since many of them are disguised as ordinary games on smartphones. Data shows that 8.8 million people in Indonesia play online gambling, with the majority of them being young people. This raises great concerns about the future of the nation’s next generation.
According to the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), as many as 80 thousand online gambling players are under the age of 10. This figure reflects how this illicit practice easily reaches vulnerable age groups. The mode used is to disguise online gambling in the form of games, making it difficult for the public, especially children and parents, to distinguish between ordinary games and games that contain elements of gambling.
The President of the Indonesian Game Association, Cipto Adiguno, explained that the external appearance of online gambling and regular games is indeed similar. However, there is a significant difference that can be recognized, namely the facility to convert digital currency in the game into real currency, such as rupiah or dollars. This is the main indicator that a game has elements of gambling.
Cipto also suggested that all game products must be registered through certain mechanisms, such as the Electronic System Organizer (PSE) or the IGRS game rating system. This step is important to ensure that games circulating in the community have gone through a thorough examination. Regulations related to game product registration are currently in the drafting and revision stage.
This registration step is expected to provide additional protection, especially for children who are the main targets of online gambling practices. With strict regulations, the chances of online gambling to camouflage as regular games will be even smaller.
In addition, the public needs to be more critical of the types of games their children play. If a game offers the option to exchange coins, diamonds, or other virtual currencies for real money, then it is suspicious. This awareness is important so that no one falls victim to the online gambling trap.
The youth group is the largest segment of online gambling players in Indonesia. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) noted that 80 percent of online gambling players come from students and college students. Although their average transaction is small, which is under Rp100 thousand per day, the impact is very significant when multiplied by the large number of players.
PPATK also highlighted how online gambling practices affect the economic conditions of the perpetrators’ families. Many of them spend up to 70 percent of their daily income on gambling. This impact is clearly harmful to the welfare of families and society as a whole.
Natsir Kongah, Coordinator of PPATK Public Relations Group, said that the turnover of online gambling money in 2024 is estimated to reach Rp900 trillion if preventive measures are not strengthened. However, he is optimistic that cross-sector coordination, including with the Police, OJK, the banking industry, and digital wallet providers, can reduce the figure by half.
The high turnover of money also shows how online gambling has become a big industry that is detrimental to society. With so much money circulating in this sector, online gamblers have the attraction to continue to develop new modes that are more difficult to recognize. Therefore, more concrete steps are needed to stop this practice.
Although online gambling continues to be a major challenge, there are positive signs. PPATK noted a downward trend in online gambling money turnover in 2024 thanks to cross-sector collaboration. This development provides hope that with good cooperation between the government, industry, and the community, the threat of online gambling can be minimized.
However, preventive measures are not only the responsibility of the government or related institutions. Parents also have an important role in protecting their children from the trap of online gambling. Education about the characteristics of games that contain elements of gambling must be carried out continuously. In addition, supervision of children’s activities in the digital world also needs to be improved.
The government can strengthen preventive measures by increasing public awareness campaigns. These campaigns should include information about the risks of online gambling, how to recognize games with gambling elements, and their impact on the economy and public welfare. By targeting different age groups, these campaigns can increase public understanding at large.
In addition, collaboration between the government and the private sector, such as game developers and digital platform providers, is also important. Game developers must have the responsibility to ensure that their products are not used for illegal purposes. On the other hand, digital platform providers can help by conducting stricter screening of games uploaded to their platforms.
Public awareness is the main key in combating online gambling practices. Every individual must have the ability to recognize the modes used by online gamblers, including disguises in the form of games. Thus, the public can be more vigilant and not easily trapped.
Support for strict regulation is also needed. Effective regulation will not only limit the scope of online gambling actors, but also provide better protection for children and other vulnerable groups.
In addition, the government needs to continue to improve digital literacy in society. Educational programs about the dangers of online gambling and how to recognize its characteristics must be part of a national campaign. With good digital literacy, society can be better prepared to face the challenges of an increasingly complex digital world.
No less important, local communities can also play an active role in this prevention effort. For example, communities at the RT or RW level can hold discussions or training on the dangers of online gambling. With a community-based approach, information can be more easily accepted by the community.
Online gambling under the guise of games is a real threat that must be watched out for by all levels of society. By recognizing its characteristics, increasing supervision, and supporting strict regulations, we can protect the younger generation from the clutches of this illicit practice.
As a caring society, let’s work together to prevent the spread of online gambling. Education, supervision, and collaboration are important steps that must be taken consistently. Don’t let our children fall victim to the increasingly sophisticated online gambling traps.
With the right steps, we can create a safer and healthier digital environment for all generations. This effort requires cooperation from all parties, from government, industry, to society. Together, we can protect the future of the nation from the threat of online gambling.
*) Contributor to the Technology Column of SingkawangPos