Appreciation of Government Collaboration with Digital Payment Platforms in Eradicating Online Gambling
By: Arman Panggabean
Cross-sector collaboration is key to eradicating online gambling in Indonesia. The government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), continues to collaborate with digital payment platform providers to create a healthier, safer, and cleaner digital space free from illegal activities. This step involves not only strict regulations, but also innovation in monitoring, education, and blocking.
Grab Indonesia and OVO, two leading digital payment platforms, have confirmed their commitment to supporting the government’s policy to eradicate online gambling. They have taken concrete steps in accordance with the direction of the Indonesian Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid. This collaboration not only shows compliance with regulations, but also social responsibility in protecting the community from the negative impacts of online gambling activities.
OVO, led by President Director Karaniya Dharmasaputra, said that the platform has been actively monitoring and blocking transactions suspected of being related to online gambling. Karaniya explained that throughout 2024, OVO managed to record a significant decrease in the value of online gambling transactions that were detected and blocked. This shows the effectiveness of a collaborative approach involving the government and the private sector. According to him, this step is a real form of OVO’s commitment to creating a safer digital ecosystem.
Grab Indonesia also took similar steps. Country Managing Director Neneng Goenadi emphasized the importance of supporting government policies to create a healthy digital space. Grab has implemented a sophisticated monitoring system to ensure that its platform is not used for illegal activities such as online gambling. Neneng sees this collaboration as a strategic effort to build public awareness of the dangers of online gambling and the importance of maintaining the security of the digital space.
The government through the Ministry of Communication and Digital also expressed its appreciation for the contribution of these two platforms. In an audience with Grab and OVO, Meutya Hafid emphasized the importance of the role of technology companies in protecting the public from the dangers of illegal activities. She also highlighted that eradicating online gambling is not only about law enforcement, but also about building strong digital literacy in society. This step is expected to increase public awareness of the risks of online gambling activities.
In addition to Grab and OVO, GoTo Group, which houses TikTok and Tokopedia, is also actively supporting the eradication of online gambling. GoTo Group CEO Patrick Walujo stated that the company will increase content moderation on its platform to prevent the spread of illegal activities. One of the planned initiatives is to continue the Anti-Online Gambling Campaign in 2025. This campaign will include public education in 10 major cities in Indonesia, including Aceh, Medan, and Papua. This step is real evidence of GoTo’s commitment to supporting government policies.
In addition to content moderation, GoTo also plans to hold an educational program aimed at increasing digital literacy in the community. This program is designed to provide the community with an understanding of the dangers of online gambling and encourage them to stay away from such activities. Patrick emphasized that education is an important element in preventing the community from falling into illegal activities.
This collaboration between the government and digital platforms provides hope that the eradication of online gambling can be carried out effectively. However, challenges remain. Online gambling continues to develop with increasingly sophisticated technology, requiring a more innovative and strategic approach. In this case, the role of technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) is very important. AI can be used to detect illegal activities more quickly and efficiently.
Moving forward, transparency and accountability must also be a major concern in this collaboration. The government and digital companies need to provide regular reports on the steps taken and their impact on eradicating online gambling. This is important to ensure public trust in the efforts made.
In addition, this collaboration also opens up opportunities to involve more parties, including educational institutions, community organizations, and the media. With a holistic approach, the eradication of online gambling can run more optimally and cover various aspects, from education to rehabilitation for those caught in the activity.
All these steps reflect a strong synergy between the government and the private sector. This cross-sector collaboration shows how various parties can come together to face complex challenges in the digital era. With a strong commitment from the government and full support from digital platforms such as Grab, OVO, and GoTo, Indonesia has a great opportunity to become a country with a safe and inclusive digital ecosystem.
Ultimately, eradicating online gambling is not just about eliminating illegal activities from the digital space, but also about creating a better future for society. With continued collaboration, Indonesia can be an example for other countries in managing a healthy and responsible digital space.
*) Social Policy Observer – Madani Institute Social Institution