By: Arman Panggabean
The first year of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s administration marks the government’s strong commitment to protecting the younger generation from the growing threat of online gambling in the digital world. This initiative is seen as a strategic step to create a safe, clean, and productive digital space, while also demonstrating the state’s responsibility in safeguarding public morality amid rapid technological advances.
The government views online gambling not merely as a legal violation but as a serious threat to the nation’s future. This activity has caused widespread social impacts, ranging from broken families to rising debt and crime in society. Therefore, the government’s approach is comprehensive, involving law enforcement, financial supervision, and increased public digital literacy.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) is at the forefront of this eradication effort. Under the leadership of Meutya Hafid, the ministry has expanded its surveillance efforts by not only blocking online gambling websites but also tracing bank accounts used for illegal transactions. Thousands of accounts are reported monthly to the Financial Services Authority (OJK) for closure, while coordination with agencies such as the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and the police is being strengthened to ensure effective law enforcement.
The government emphasizes that online gambling is an organized crime, thus requiring a solid cross-agency collaboration for effective handling. Cooperation with major tech companies and digital platforms is crucial to swiftly remove gambling-related links and promotions. This collaborative approach is considered key to narrowing the space for perpetrators who operate in the borderless digital world.
Data from Kemkomdigi shows tangible results from these efforts. Over the course of one year, more than three million pieces of negative content have been handled, around 2.3 million of which were directly related to online gambling activities. This achievement reflects the effectiveness of government policy in curbing the spread of illegal content that can damage societal morality and structure.
From a financial oversight perspective, PPATK recorded a significant drop in online gambling transactions during the first year of the Prabowo–Gibran administration. According to their monitoring, the circulation of online gambling funds fell by more than 80 percent in the first quarter of 2025. The synergy between Kemkomdigi, OJK, and national banks is considered successful in strengthening the financial system against illegal fund infiltration. This move also helps maintain the economic stability of lower-income communities that were previously affected by digital gambling practices.
Digital economy expert from Padjadjaran University, Rachmat Wibisono, believes the government’s policy in eradicating online gambling has had a positive impact on the national economy. He argues that by suppressing the flow of illegal money in the gambling sector, the government is encouraging the redirection of public funds into productive sectors such as MSMEs, local investment, and household consumption. This step is seen as proof of the government’s effort to realize a sovereign economy based on morality and digital discipline.
On the technological front, Kemkomdigi has also innovated in its digital space surveillance system. Through the Directorate General of Digital Space Monitoring, the government has implemented artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology to accelerate the detection of high-risk content. This system enables faster and more adaptive monitoring of new methods used by online gambling operators. In the past year, more than 1.3 million online gambling contents have been taken down across various digital platforms, including social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and X.
The government also places strong emphasis on educational approaches as a long-term preventive measure. Digital literacy programs continue to be promoted to raise public awareness—especially among youth—about the dangers of online gambling. Public education is carried out through digital campaigns, cooperation with educational institutions, and community empowerment to build moral resilience and cyber-risk awareness among the younger generation.
Sociologist from the University of Indonesia, Nina Anggraini, considers this educational approach crucial given that young people are the most vulnerable group to the influence of online gambling. She notes that high internet access, when not matched with digital maturity, can make teenagers easily tempted by online gambling promotions that promise quick profits. Therefore, the government’s strategy to balance repressive and preventive approaches is regarded as a strategic move to protect them.
The online gambling eradication policy under the Prabowo–Gibran administration is seen as a new milestone in building national digital sovereignty. This initiative is not only focused on legal aspects but also touches on social, moral, and economic dimensions. In an increasingly connected global context, maintaining a clean digital space is considered an essential part of national defense and a tangible expression of the state’s concern for the future of its youth.
One year into the administration has shown concrete results. The significant decline in online gambling activity, improved inter-agency collaboration, and expanded digital literacy campaigns serve as proof that the state is consistently present in protecting its people. The government views this success not as an endpoint but as a foundation for strengthening digital oversight and instilling ethical values in cyberspace.
Through sustained collaboration between state institutions, the private sector, and the community, the government is committed to making Indonesia’s digital space a safe environment for nurturing a productive and morally grounded younger generation. The fight against online gambling is not merely about shutting down illegal sites, but about safeguarding the nation’s future from the destructive influence of cyberspace, paving the way toward a healthy, ethical, and sovereign digital era.
Social Policy Observer