By: Alif Hakim )*
President Prabowo Subianto has shown a firm commitment in responding to the increasing prevalence of online gambling that has been troubling Indonesian society. According to data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the circulation of funds related to online gambling has recorded a very significant increase in recent years.
In the first half of 2024, online gambling transactions have reached IDR 174.56 trillion. Previously, in 2023, this fund circulation reached IDR 327.05 trillion, while in 2022 and 2021 it was recorded at IDR 104.42 trillion and IDR 57.91 trillion respectively. These figures show how rapidly online gambling has developed in Indonesia, which has become a serious concern for the government.
Responding to this situation, President Prabowo Subianto has taken firm steps by instructing various state institutions to cooperate in eradicating this illegal gambling practice. Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, revealed that President Prabowo has repeatedly emphasized the importance of cooperation between government institutions, such as the National Police, Attorney General’s Office, and the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.
Meutya stated that President Prabowo reminded that no party should provide protection or assist online gambling perpetrators. According to Meutya, President Prabowo emphasized that this issue must be fought seriously because the majority of victims of online gambling are people who cannot afford it. Therefore, President Prabowo reminded all parties to cooperate in combating online gambling practices without any room for backing.
On the other hand, PPATK Head Ivan Yustiavandana also provided worrying information regarding the circulation of online gambling funds. Ivan mentioned that in 2023, funds circulating in online gambling reached IDR 327.05 trillion, and in the first half of 2024, IDR 174.56 trillion has already been recorded. According to Ivan, this very significant increase indicates that the online gambling network is growing larger and involves various parties that support this illegal practice.
Ivan also emphasized the importance of collaboration between PPATK and the National Police in tracing the flow of online gambling funds to ensure that this practice can be stopped. According to him, PPATK will continue to monitor and analyze suspicious transactions to identify individuals involved in online gambling.
Meanwhile, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo also affirmed that the National Police is fully committed to firmly eradicating online gambling. General Sigit stated that the police will not tolerate any members involved in online gambling, either as direct perpetrators or as supporting parties. He explained that orders have been given to the Head of the Professional and Security Division to take action and impose strict sanctions on involved members.
Furthermore, General Sigit also reminded that any member involved in online gambling or backing gambling perpetrators will be criminally processed without exception. In this eradication effort, the National Police Chief also added that his party will continue to strengthen cooperation with PPATK and other relevant ministries to trace and freeze assets related to online gambling, to ensure that eradication efforts can run optimally.
This firm commitment from President Prabowo, PPATK, and the National Police shows that the eradication of online gambling is not only a government priority but also a shared responsibility to protect society. In this case, President Prabowo consistently emphasizes that online gambling must be fought vigorously because, in addition to violating the law, online gambling also has very detrimental social impacts.
It should be noted that the majority of online gambling victims are people from economically weak backgrounds, who are trapped in debt and large losses due to gambling addiction. Therefore, the eradication of online gambling is not only limited to law enforcement but also related to social and economic protection of the community.
President Prabowo emphasizes that the government has a responsibility to protect the people from the threat of online gambling that can destroy the future. To that end, cooperation between various state institutions is very necessary. The National Police, Attorney General’s Office, and PPATK must continue to work together to tackle the circulation of online gambling in a systematic and integrated manner. This cooperation must also involve the community, which has an important role in providing information to authorities about online gambling practices occurring around them.
Overall, the efforts to eradicate online gambling carried out by President Prabowo along with all government agencies reflect the determination to ensure that Indonesia is free from destructive illegal gambling practices. The government is committed to ensuring that online gambling is not only stopped through law enforcement but also through preventive efforts involving all levels of society. Through strong synergy between state institutions and society, it is hoped that harmful online gambling practices can be stopped and Indonesia can create a safer and more prosperous future for all its people.
)* The author is a contributor to Jendela Baca Institute
