Government Strengthens Efforts to Combat Online Gambling to Protect the Youth from Digital Dangers
Jakarta – The government has reaffirmed its commitment to protect the younger generation from the rising threat of online gambling in the digital world. Through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi), massive eradication efforts are being carried out by shutting down illegal sites and taking action against bank accounts used for online gambling transactions.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, stated that this effort is a crucial part of the government’s focus during the first year of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s leadership, especially in maintaining a healthy, safe digital space free from destructive content for the youth.
In an official statement in Jakarta, Meutya emphasized that eradication efforts must go beyond simply shutting down involved sites and must also include monitoring financial transaction flows related to such activities.
“Every month, as the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, I send thousands of bank account numbers to be closed because they are used for online gambling transactions. We monitor the content, record the accounts, and then hand them over monthly to the Financial Services Authority (OJK) because this has to be a joint effort,” said Meutya.
She explained that Kemkomdigi routinely supervises digital content that promotes or facilitates online gambling. Actions are targeted not only at main websites but also at subdomains, derivative links, and social media accounts involved in spreading promotions of illegal games.
“The authority to close accounts does not rest with Komdigi. We shut down websites and coordinate with platforms to deactivate accounts promoting gambling. Meanwhile, account closures and law enforcement are handled by other institutions,” she clarified.
According to Meutya, online gambling practices constitute organized crime that requires cross-sector handling. Therefore, coordination between Kemkomdigi, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and law enforcement agencies is continuously strengthened to accelerate site blocking and offender prosecution more effectively.
“Organized crime like this must be faced with an organized approach. Coordination is ongoing, although we continue to push for more massive acceleration of enforcement,” Meutya stated.
During the first year of the Prabowo-Gibran administration, the agenda to combat online gambling has become part of the national priority in strengthening digital security and protecting the public in cyberspace.
The government is committed to creating a healthy and safe digital ecosystem free from illegal content, including online gambling that harms society and the national economy.
The firm actions taken by Kemkomdigi demonstrate the government’s consistency in maintaining a clean, safe, and ethical digital space, in line with the grand vision to realize Indonesia’s digital sovereignty.
