By: Aditya Akbar )*
Online gambling practices not only result in financial losses, but also damage social order and family life. In an effort to eradicate online gambling, the role of the family is crucial. The family is not only the first place where moral values are taught, but also the main fortress in protecting its members from this threat.
The Minister of Communication and Digital of the Republic of Indonesia, Meutya Hafid, highlighted that online gambling has developed into a national social crisis that must be resolved immediately and comprehensively. Although the government has blocked more than one million online gambling sites, this problem is not over.
The government does have the authority, but what is much more important is the support of the ecosystem as a whole. Therefore, he appreciates the steps of the platform and stakeholders in the Gambling Alliance that are working together to fight online gambling.
As part of the effort to eradicate online gambling, Meutya Hafid fully supports the Gambling Movement that involves Gojek driver partners as education agents regarding the dangers of online gambling. Gojek driver partners are considered to have closeness to the community and are expected to help educate the public about the negative impacts of online gambling. The Minister of Communication and Digital also emphasized that the key to success in combating online gambling is strengthening public understanding, especially in the family environment.
Previously, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo also emphasized that preventing online gambling, especially among children, must start from the family environment. He highlighted that online gambling is now not only targeting adults, but also minors. Online gambling perpetrators are getting smarter in attracting children’s attention by packaging the appearance of the game so that it looks like a regular game. Therefore, parents have a very important role in preventing their children from falling into this practice.
General Sigit appealed to parents to regularly check their children’s cellphones to ensure that they do not access online gambling sites. If strict supervision is not carried out, the younger generation will be at risk of experiencing moral and financial damage. In addition to supervision, early education in the family environment is also very necessary. Children must be given an understanding from an early age about the dangers of online gambling, both in terms of finances and its impact on their social lives.
Online gambling not only impacts the individuals who play, but also their families. There are many cases where someone who is addicted to online gambling goes bankrupt, loses their job, and even falls into uncontrollable debt. This certainly has a negative impact on the welfare of the family as a whole. Therefore, the family must be the first line of defense in protecting its members from the trap of online gambling.
In addition, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) also emphasized the importance of the role of the family in preventing Indonesian citizens (WNI) from becoming victims of human trafficking (TPPO) involving online gambling abroad. The Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, said that families must be active in supervising their members who want to work abroad. According to him, many families do not know for sure where their family members work and how they got abroad. This often leads to their exploitation and involvement in illegal activities, including online gambling.
To prevent this, families must ensure that the procedures for leaving the country are in accordance with applicable regulations. They must ask whether family members who will work abroad have the right visas, have signed valid employment contracts, and know clearly the company they work for. This proactive attitude is very important so that no family member becomes a victim of exploitation or is forced to get involved in online gambling abroad.
Steps that can be taken by families to combat online gambling include increasing supervision of internet use by family members, especially children. Parents must ensure that the digital devices used by children do not provide easy access to online gambling sites. In addition, building open communication between parents and children is very important so that children feel comfortable talking about the problems they face, including if they are exposed to online gambling.
In addition to supervision, education is also an important key in preventing online gambling. Families must provide an understanding to their members regarding the negative impacts of online gambling, both financially, socially, and psychologically. With a strong understanding, a person will be more aware of the dangers that lurk from online gambling activities.
With the increasing ancsafe online gambling, families must be proactive in protecting their members. The role of the family is very large in building awareness and providing protection against the negative impacts of online gambling. If every family takes the right preventive steps, then efforts to eradicate online gambling in Indonesia will be more effective and the younger generation can grow in a healthy environment free from the dangers of online gambling. )* The author is a contributor to the Advanced Indonesian Youth Network
