By: Bara W.*)
The online gambling phenomenon in Indonesia has become increasingly complex with the development of digital technology. This activity not only triggers financial losses for the public but also has widespread social impacts, ranging from addiction and family conflict to criminal activity. The government, along with law enforcement officials and experts, has emphasized their commitment to addressing this problem through strategic measures involving regulation, oversight, and public education.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, stated that her ministry has found strong indications of a link between online gambling networks and efforts to monetize provocative content on social media. Digital monitoring revealed significant funding flows through online platforms, which are used to broadcast violent and anarchic content. These findings demonstrate a systematic pattern in which certain accounts linked to online gambling use demonstrations and unrest as a means to gain illicit financial gain.
Furthermore, Meutya explained that the government has increased its blocking of thousands of online gambling sites each week. However, these illegal players continue to find ways to resume operations by exploiting technological loopholes. She emphasized that her ministry is collaborating with digital platform providers to limit the scope for these illegal activities. The government also urged the public to be more judicious in their use of social media and to avoid being trapped by provocative content rife with illicit economic motives.
A similar analysis was delivered by Ardi Sutedja, Chairman of the Indonesian Cyber Security Forum (ICSF). He stated that the phenomenon of online gambling involvement in funding provocative content represents a new form of monetization of social conflict. According to him, a number of accounts spreading demonstration content have links to the online gambling industry. This represents both a revenge strategy and a new business opportunity for the perpetrators, especially as the government has increasingly blocked their sites. By injecting funds into accounts spreading unrest, perpetrators are not only seeking financial gain but also attempting to obscure the true purpose of the demonstrations.
Ardi added that this pattern is dangerous because it encourages the emergence of more negative content and increases information distortion. When money is the primary motive, the accuracy of information is sacrificed to attract as many viewers as possible. He warned that this phenomenon can damage social order and erode public trust in the digital space. Therefore, public awareness is needed to avoid being easily provoked and to increase digital literacy so they can distinguish healthy content from destructive content.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials have also demonstrated concrete steps in cracking down on online gambling networks. The Director of Cyber Crime at the Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Himawan Bayu Aji, stated that his team has successfully uncovered the roles of three suspects in an international online gambling operation. One of the suspects, identified as MR, is known to have acted as the chief administrator controlling several of the sites. As a result of the operation, police seized nearly nine hundred million rupiah in cash in various currencies, including rupiah, US dollars, and Philippine pesos, as well as several pieces of electronic evidence, including laptops, cell phones, and bank accounts.
According to Himawan, this case is clear evidence that online gambling networks in Indonesia are transnational in scale and well-managed. He explained that the perpetrators’ modus operandi involves not only using websites but also integrating their services with messaging apps and social media to attract players. The police are committed to taking firm action not only against the main perpetrators but also against those involved in supporting the digital gambling ecosystem.
Himawan emphasized that law enforcement against online gambling cannot be carried out in a piecemeal manner. Therefore, the National Police are collaborating with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology and other relevant institutions to strengthen synergy. This collaboration aims to ensure that digital access closures are accompanied by arrests of perpetrators in the field. This way, the illegal business chain can be completely disrupted.
From a social perspective, the rise of online gambling demonstrates the need to improve digital literacy within society. Many individuals fail to understand that the algorithmic systems in online games are designed to benefit the organizers, not the players. As a result, users often fall into a cycle of addiction and financial loss. The government, along with academics and civil society, continues to advocate for public education to raise awareness of these risks. Ethical values, good character, and social responsibility must be instilled to prevent young people from falling prey to digital gambling practices.
The government also emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration. Businesses, particularly financial services and fintech providers, are urged to play an active role in identifying and blocking suspicious transactions related to online gambling. The mass media is also expected to participate in disseminating accurate information and anti-gambling campaigns to raise public awareness.
The government’s seriousness in tackling online gambling demonstrates that this issue cannot be taken lightly. Online gambling has evolved from being merely an illegal activity into a real threat to economic resilience, social stability, and national security. Every individual has a responsibility to keep the digital space healthy, productive, and free from harmful practices. In this fast-paced technological era, collective awareness is the last bastion in defending the nation’s integrity from the threat of online gambling.
*)The author is a social and community observer.