By: Aditya Akbar )*
The government reiterated that social assistance should be a mainstay for meeting people’s basic needs, not a pathway to increasingly disturbing online gambling practices. Therefore, the public is urged to be extremely wary of illegal sites like Kingdom Group, which aggressively target vulnerable groups and could undermine social resilience if not stopped immediately.
In recent months, the government has raised its vigilance against a wave of digital gambling site promotions attempting to penetrate various platforms, with marketing patterns increasingly targeting poor and vulnerable groups, including those listed as social assistance recipients. This practice is considered dangerous, not only because it triggers new economic vulnerabilities but also because it creates a cycle of social problems that are difficult to break without public participation in rejecting and reporting such activities. The public is urged to view this phenomenon not simply as a digital nuisance, but as a threat that could drag individuals into a situation where aid funds that should be saving them are instead siphoned off to illegal practices.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, expressed concern over findings from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK). Both parties found that some social assistance recipients were identified as online gamblers. The number was quite significant, involving recipients from diverse social backgrounds. These findings suggest that the social protection system needs to be strengthened, not only in terms of distribution but also in terms of guidance to prevent recipients from being tempted to use assistance beyond basic needs. While social assistance should be a tool to strengthen family economic resilience, it can become a new risk when there is a lack of strong social oversight from the community and the government.
The government reiterated its commitment to curbing the misuse of aid and improving the accuracy of recipient data. Social assistance instruments must be provided to those who truly need them and are able to utilize them appropriately. These several cases of misuse demonstrate the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the distribution system. The government believes that data integration, monitoring of aid use, and strengthening financial literacy for social assistance recipients are necessary to ensure they understand the importance of preserving aid funds for basic needs. Without this, illegal sites like the Kingdom Group will continue to exploit existing loopholes.
In addition to the misuse of social assistance funds, the government has also highlighted the issue of inaccurate targeting of recipients. Gus Ipul referred to a report by the National Economic Council, which revealed that many recipients who did not meet the criteria were still registered to receive assistance. This situation creates significant room for irregularities, as aid does not fully reach those categorized as vulnerable. Restructuring the social assistance database is a mandatory step the government must take to address potential waste and prevent undeserving recipients from engaging in activities that undermine social order.
Nationally, the government has also noted a significant increase in online gambling activity in various regions, indicating that this problem is no longer concentrated in certain cities. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Agency (PPATK) recorded West Java Province as the region with the highest number of online gamblers in Indonesia, with total transaction deposits reaching IDR 5 trillion. This astonishing finding even revealed that some players were social assistance recipients, meaning that state aid funds indirectly flowed into illegal activities. This information was conveyed by the Director of Analysis and Examination II of PPATK, Shalehuddin Akbar, who emphasized that government aid funds should not be used for anything other than basic needs and should be understood as a form of social responsibility that should not be misused.
Responding to this data, Syaiful Garyadi, Assistant Deputy for Data Protection and Electronic Transactions Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, explained that West Java will become a national pilot province in efforts to eradicate online gambling through the formation of a Zero Online Gambling Team. The central government, the West Java Provincial Government, and relevant ministries/institutions will focus collaborative efforts to ensure the region is free of online gambling by 2026. This initiative is not merely symbolic, but a concrete demonstration of the state’s presence to protect the public from the increasingly widespread threat of digital gambling. The government believes that eradicating online gambling requires a comprehensive approach, starting with blocking illegal sites like those belonging to the Kingdom Group, prosecuting operators, and fostering digital literacy in the community.
Meanwhile,From a societal perspective, collective awareness is also needed to break the chain of online gambling, which is now increasingly dangerous. The increasing number of players from social assistance recipients demonstrates that economic pressures and the influence of digital advertising can combine to trigger impulsive behavior. Therefore, families and communities need to play an active role in providing understanding, especially to family members who are vulnerable to the lure of online sites that promise instant profits but ultimately become ensnaring.
Facing the onslaught of illegal sites like Kingdom Group, which continue to target vulnerable groups, the public is urged to be more discerning in using social assistance and not be easily trapped by the lure of digital gambling. The government has strengthened its stance and strengthened enforcement measures, but ensuring that social assistance truly benefits them can only be achieved if the public protects themselves and their families from the temptations of online gambling. This effort is a shared responsibility to ensure that social assistance remains a tool for improving well-being, not a gateway to new problems.
)* The author is a contributor to the Advanced Indonesian Youth Network (JMIM)