By: Raditya Rahman)*
The online gambling phenomenon in Indonesia has become an increasingly worrying social problem. While gambling was once carried out conventionally through cards or physical games, digital technology has now introduced new, much more accessible forms. With just a device and an internet connection, people can fall prey to online gambling practices that offer the illusion of winning, but in reality, result in significant losses, both economically and socially, and even mentally.
Satria Utama, an expert in Islamic economics at Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta, assesses the impact of online gambling on families as very serious. He notes that many households that previously had a regular budget for daily needs are now forced to sacrifice a significant portion of their income to participate in this high-stakes gambling. He even cited cases where social assistance funds that should have been used for food, children’s education, or healthcare were instead used for gambling. This situation is no longer an individual issue but has become a threat to family economic resilience.
Furthermore, Satria emphasized that the problem of online gambling becomes even more complex when players seek betting funds through shortcuts, namely borrowing funds from online lending apps. Many online gamblers lose bets and try to cover their losses by going into debt. However, the high interest rates on these loans only further trap them in trouble. He described the situation as a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. Families that are initially only financially affected can eventually collapse due to the inability to cope with the pressure of debt and the loss of livelihoods.
The problem of online gambling doesn’t stop there. From a mental health perspective, the dangers are no less serious. Dr. Lahargo Kembaren, SpKJ, a psychiatrist at the National Mental Health Center at Dr. H. Marzoeki Mahdi Mental Hospital in Bogor, explained that gambling addiction, or pathological gambling, is a serious mental disorder comparable to drug addiction. He stated that the neural circuits in the brain of sufferers are disrupted, making it extremely difficult for them to stop even when they realize the losses they are causing. Gambling addiction can lead to financial loss, depression, anxiety, and even suicide attempts.
Lahargo explained that many patients come with broken homes, job losses, and the sale of family assets. Furthermore, gambling addiction often leads to other negative behaviors, such as lying, stealing, and violence. He believes that gambling not only damages one’s finances but also their souls and social relationships. This statement emphasizes that the impact of online gambling goes far beyond financial issues.
Another aspect of this problem has been revealed through law enforcement. The West Jakarta Metro Police recently uncovered the workings of online gambling site owners and administrators who deliberately made it impossible for players to win. West Jakarta Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Twedi Aditya Bennyahdi, explained that players who transferred money to the site’s account would receive an account to play. However, the site’s system was rigged to stifle the player’s chances of winning. This fraudulent practice demonstrates that online gambling is not only risky but also designed to harm society.
Twedi further explained that the two perpetrators, Nicola and Ripal, managed to rake in approximately Rp100 million in profits in just three months. Each day, they collected approximately Rp1.5 million from new player registrations. Their modus operandi involved randomly distributing text messages to promote their sites. Some of the sites they operated included Harta77, Mwin, Jiwa4D, Gudang Toto, Mega88, and Ares77. This practice clearly demonstrates how the perpetrators actively lured new victims with the promise of false winnings.
Looking at this overall picture, it’s clear that online gambling has a far-reaching domino effect. From families losing income, communities burdened with online loan debt, individuals falling into mental health problems, to fraudulent practices that mercilessly rob players of their money, all this leads to one conclusion: online gambling offers no benefits other than loss and suffering.
Indonesians must immediately realize that avoiding online gambling is not simply an option, but an urgent necessity to safeguard the future of their families and the nation. Every rupiah lost through gambling threatens children’s education, family health, and household economic stability. Anyone caught up in the online gambling cycle risks losing more than just money—they could lose relationships, dignity, and even their lives.
Therefore, collective action is needed to combat this phenomenon. The government, along with law enforcement officials, has taken steps to dismantle illegal website networks, but these efforts will be insufficient without public awareness. Parents need to be more vigilant about their children’s device use, while local communities can actively provide education and support to families exposed to the dangers of online gambling.
Avoiding online gambling means protecting yourself, your family, and your future. Society needs to strengthen its resolve to say no to all forms of digital gambling. This collective awareness serves as the last line of defense to prevent the nation from being swept away by a destructive current that begins on smartphone screens and can ultimately lead to real-world destruction.
)* The author is a contributor to the Advanced Young Indonesia Network (JMIM)