By: Rendy Putra Wijaya
Online gambling is increasingly becoming a serious threat to Indonesian society. Its impacts not only damage morals, but also threaten the economic stability of families and the country. The government, through cross-agency synergy, continues to intensify various steps to limit the movement of online gambling perpetrators who have harmed millions of people, especially the poor and students.
Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, said that online gambling contributes to new poverty figures in Indonesia, with more than 8.8 million people involved in it. He emphasized that online gambling is often just a mode of fraud that harms the lower classes. Therefore, he emphasized the importance of digital literacy to educate the public about the dangers of online gambling.
The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) revealed that until the third quarter of this year, the turnover of money related to online gambling has reached IDR283 trillion, with a total deposit of around IDR43 trillion. This data reflects the magnitude of the threat posed by online gambling to the national economy. Seeing this, the government together with various parties continues to collaborate to close the loopholes exploited by online gambling perpetrators.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) is one of the main actors in the effort to eradicate online gambling. In the latest coordination meeting, the Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, instructed cellular telecommunications operators to tighten supervision of credit transactions. One of the steps taken is to limit credit transfers to a maximum of IDR 1 million so that they are not misused for online gambling activities. In addition, Menkomdigi encourages SIM card re-registration using biometric data to facilitate the identification of perpetrators.
The Minister of Communication and Digital also emphasized the importance of preventive measures through digital literacy. He considered that high mobile phone penetration could be utilized to convey educational messages to the wider community. Thus, the community is expected to be more aware of the modus operandi of online gambling actors who continue to innovate.
Deputy for Analysis and Examination of PPATK, Danang Tri Hartono, stated that his party has identified the flow of funds used in online gambling activities. This data is used to provide warnings to identified perpetrators, in accordance with Article 303 bis of the Criminal Code. PPATK also encourages cellular operators to be more proactive in socializing the dangers of online gambling to the public.
In an effort to limit the movement of online gambling perpetrators, Kemkomdigi has taken strict action against thousands of related content. During the period from November 29 to December 4, 2024, 49,239 online gambling content were successfully prosecuted. Among these contents, there are social media accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers that promote online gambling. These accounts have not escaped government supervision.
Acting Director General of Digital Space Supervision of the Ministry of Communication and Digital, Alexander Sabar, emphasized that the government will continue to take indiscriminate action against parties involved in this activity. From October to early December 2024, the Ministry of Communication and Digital has blocked more than 464 thousand contents related to online gambling, including websites, social media, and other digital platforms.
Alexander also reminded that online gambling often disguises itself as a regular online game. This mode is not only financially detrimental, but also threatens the security of players’ personal data. According to him, personal data such as mobile phone numbers, emails, and bank accounts are often targeted by online gambling syndicates to be used illegally.
Synergy between agencies is the main key in eradicating online gambling. Kemkomdigi, PPATK, and cellular operators are working together to strengthen regulation and supervision. One of the regulations being considered is the limitation of credit transfers and strict supervision of digital payment applications that are often used as a medium for online gambling game deposits.
Not only that, mobile operators are also encouraged to be more active in conveying digital literacy messages through various communication channels. The government hopes that this step can increase public awareness of the dangers of online gambling while minimizing the number of players involved.
Efforts to eradicate online gambling are not only the responsibility of the government, but also require active participation from the community. Education about the dangers of online gambling must continue to be encouraged, especially in the family and school environment. The public is also urged to be more careful in providing personal data and to report suspicious activities to the authorities.
The strategic steps taken by the government show a serious commitment to eradicating online gambling. However, the success of this effort is highly dependent on the synergy between the government, mobile operators, and the community. With good collaboration, the room for online gambling perpetrators to move can be further narrowed, so that the impact on the community can be minimized.
Although the challenges in eradicating online gambling are very complex, the commitment shown by the government and various related parties provides great hope. With strengthened regulations, optimized technology, and education that continues to be socialized, Indonesia can achieve the goal of becoming a country free from the threat of online gambling.
Through these steps, the government hopes to protect the public from the negative impacts of online gambling. Not only from an economic perspective, but also in maintaining the social and moral integrity of the nation. With the full support of the community, the hope of creating a safer and healthier digital environment can be realized.
Public Policy Observer – Madani Institute Social Institution
