Jakarta – The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) revealed shocking data related to the rampant online gambling in Indonesia. To date, as many as four million internet users in Indonesia are involved in online gambling activities, including 80 thousand of whom are children.
“What’s worse, there are four million online gambling players out of all internet users in Indonesia who play online gambling every day, including 80 thousand children,” said Deputy Minister of Communication and Information, Nezar Patria, in his official statement.
Nezar stressed that the government will not remain silent in the face of the online gambling phenomenon that has a destructive impact on society. He called this activity a serious threat to the nation.
“Online gambling is a big problem, a big enemy for Indonesian society,” he said, quoting President Prabowo Subianto.
The negative impact of online gambling not only affects the social aspect, but also the country’s economy. Based on data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the transaction value of online gambling reached a fantastic figure of almost IDR 900 trillion. As a countermeasure, Kemkomdigi has removed 5.5 million contents related to online gambling until December 2024.
“From the amount alone, we already know how terrible those who are exposed to online gambling are. Just imagine, that much money should have been used for more positive things, but instead it was absorbed in the game and flew away who knows where,” explained Nezar.
In addition, the Director of Information and Communication of Politics, Law, and Security of the Ministry of Communication and Digital, Marroli Jeni Indarto, highlighted that online gambling often targets the younger generation. He explained that the perpetrators use the lure of instant victory to attract the attention of young people, even though in reality the chances of winning are very small because they are against the algorithm.
“We must know, this online gambling targets young people because there is a hallucination to win quickly. In fact, what is being fought is an algorithm, so it is very impossible to win,” said Marroli.
Marroli also appealed to the public, especially the younger generation, not to be tempted to try online gambling in any form.
“Once you try, you will be trapped and it will be difficult to get out. In fact, criminal threats could await,” he said. He also added the importance of the role of families to remind each other about the dangers of online gambling. “What is also important is to remind each other’s closest family about the dangers of online gambling,” he said.
The government continues to strive to increase public awareness of the dangers of online gambling through education, policies, and legal action, in order to protect the future of the nation from this increasingly worrying threat.
