By: Arsenio Bagas Pamungkas
The Indonesian government continues to demonstrate its commitment to eradicating the increasingly concerning practice of online gambling. Concrete steps taken by the authorities have yielded positive results, with a significant decline in online gambling transactions throughout 2024. This indicates that the policies and regulations implemented have effectively curbed the spread of this illegal activity.
According to quarterly evaluation reports, Alexander Sabar, Director-General of Digital Space Oversight at the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemkominfo), reported a drastic decrease in online gambling transactions over time. In the first quarter of 2024, online gambling transactions reached IDR 21 trillion, but this fell to IDR 16 trillion in the second quarter, and further decreased to IDR 4 trillion in the third quarter. This illustrates that the various enforcement actions taken have started to show tangible impacts on online gambling activities in Indonesia.
During a hearing session of the Online Gambling Working Committee (Panja) of Commission I at the Indonesian Parliament, Jakarta, Alexander explained that the government’s approach to handling online gambling is based on three main regulations. These include Law No. 1 of 2024 on the Second Amendment to Law No. 11 of 2008 on Information and Electronic Transactions, Government Regulation No. 71 of 2019 on the Implementation of Electronic Systems and Transactions, and Minister of Communication and Information Regulation No. 5 of 2020 on Electronic System Organizers in the Private Sector. These regulations provide the government with a strong legal basis to take action and block access to websites and apps involved in online gambling.
Furthermore, Kemkominfo has been actively researching and analyzing new methods used in online gambling. This includes leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technology to filter and verify content related to online gambling. The measures taken not only include blocking websites but also disconnecting access to mobile phone numbers and messaging apps used for gambling transactions. The integrity of the team handling the eradication of online gambling is also strictly maintained through integrity pacts and regular assessments of team members.
The commitment to eradicating online gambling has also received special attention from National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who stressed that his entire force must work to the fullest in addressing this issue. General Listyo highlighted the significant impact of online gambling on society, particularly among the underprivileged and minors. As a result, he instructed his officers to continue enforcing the law firmly and collaborate with various parties to resolve this issue.
The instructions issued include investigating police officers’ involvement in online gambling activities, enforcing the law against perpetrators, and applying money laundering laws (TPPU) to seize the assets of major gambling operators. This step is considered crucial to ensure that online gambling syndicates are no longer financially capable of running their operations.
In line with this, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, emphasized that online gambling poses a serious threat to the nation. In her first 100 days of leadership, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs successfully removed over 882,352 online gambling-related pieces of content from various digital platforms. This effort was carried out in cooperation with several digital platforms, with the majority of the blocked content originating from websites and IP addresses, while the remainder was found on social media platforms.
As part of further measures, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs began applying administrative sanctions on February 1, 2025, to Private User-Generated Content (PSE UGC) Electronic System Organizers who fail to comply with regulations. This demonstrates the government’s firm stance on controlling platforms that facilitate the spread of online gambling content.
The negative impact of online gambling has also been voiced by Syamsu Rizal, a member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) from the PKB faction. He argued that online gambling should be declared a national emergency. He pointed out the growing negative effects of online gambling, which have even led to tragedies within society. He highlighted the tragic case in South Tangerang, where a young family was found dead due to involvement in online gambling and online loans. This case reflects how online gambling not only destroys individual finances but also brings significant social consequences.
Syamsu Rizal also revealed that, of Indonesia’s total population of 270 million, around 40 million people have been affected by online gambling, with approximately 8 million being active players. This figure illustrates the magnitude of the problem and the urgency for the government to continue ramping up its efforts.
The government’s efforts to eradicate online gambling are showing promising results. The significant decrease in online gambling transactions and the decisive actions taken by various institutions indicate that the fight against online gambling is bearing fruit. However, this battle is far from over.
It requires close cooperation between the government, law enforcement agencies, and the public to ensure that online gambling is eradicated down to its roots. With continued strengthening of measures and tightening regulations, it is hoped that online gambling will no longer pose a threat to Indonesian society.
*) The author is a contributor at the Persada Institute.
