By: Andi Mahesa )*
Online gambling has become a serious problem in Indonesia, spreading to various groups and utilizing technological advances to develop rapidly. This phenomenon is not only financially detrimental, but also affects the social and psychological aspects of the individuals involved. The government firmly appeals to all parties, including the government, non-governmental organizations, internet service providers, and the general public, to unite in eradicating this illegal practice.
The existence of online gambling in Indonesia is clearly against the law, but in reality, even though regulations exist, this practice continues to grow. This shows that there are loopholes that are exploited by certain individuals to continue their illegal activities. Not only that, online gambling is also often disguised in various forms of attractive and attractive applications or websites, making it increasingly difficult to detect.
Furthermore, this effort cannot only rely on the authorities or digital companies alone. All parties must be involved, because the problem of online gambling is cross-sectoral. Counseling to the community, especially the younger generation who are vulnerable to being trapped, must be carried out in a more interesting way and directly touch the root of the problem. Komdigi itself has a strategic role in driving this awareness, as well as being a bridge for the government and the digital sector to work together effectively.
Online gambling is also not only a legal issue, but also a moral and social issue. When a society is overshadowed by digital gambling, more and more individuals will be trapped in a vicious circle of dependence and great losses. Therefore, it is not only law enforcement that needs to be strengthened, but also our collective awareness as a nation to protect the next generation from this destructive threat.
The Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid highlighted the importance of the role of society in eradicating online gambling practices. Therefore, Menkomdigi invited Gojek driver partners who are known to be close to the community to become agents of change.
According to him, with the Gambling Movement, it is certain that Rugi will be a loss, involving Gojek driver partners, it can significantly reduce the number of online gambling. He said that the key to optimally eradicating online gambling is to strengthen public understanding, starting from the closest environment. So Meutya hopes that Gojek driver partners can help educate the public about the dangers of online gambling.
GoTo’s President Director, Patrick Walujo, revealed that the formation of the Gambling Alliance is a follow-up step to GoPay’s commitment to eradicating online gambling. According to him, eradicating online gambling requires the participation of all parties, including the government, the private sector, and the community itself.
This alliance aims to unite the strengths of various parties in creating an educational campaign that is easy to understand and can reach all levels of society. In addition, the Gambling Alliance also focuses on empowering families as the first line of defense in preventing family members from falling into online gambling.
This kind of alliance is indeed very important, because the problem of online gambling is not only related to law and technology, but also to the culture and mindset of society. One of the strategies initiated is through a family approach, with the hope that family members can remind each other and help each other to avoid the dangers of online gambling. Education from the family is a strong foundation for building awareness and concern for the dangers of online gambling. The community is expected to be more open to each other in identifying and discussing this problem, both individually and within the family environment.
In addition to GoPay and the GoTo ecosystem such as Gojek driver partners, the parties involved in the Judi Pasti Rugi alliance also come from various institutions, namely Telkomsel, Google, TikTok and various mass media, and are fully supported by the Ministry of Communication and Digital. The Judi Pasti Rugi movement began with Gojek driver partners. With high mobility and direct interaction with the wider community, Gojek driver partners have an important role as education and outreach agents regarding the dangers of online gambling activities in their surroundings.
Telkomsel also joined the Judi Pasti Rugi alliance initiative to strengthen efforts to eradicate online gambling practices in Indonesia. This step is in line with the government’s priority policies through the Ministry of Communication and Digital, as well as being a form of cross-sector collaboration in creating synergy value for a safer and more inclusive digital space.
Telkomsel’s VP of Corporate Communications & Social Responsibility, Saki H. Bramono, said that Telkomsel continues to strive to establish strategic collaborations to accelerate the progress of Indonesian society, towards a better day and a bright future. By joining Telkomsel in the 2025 Gambling Alliance is Certainly a Loss, showing that Telkomsel firmly supports the government’s policy of closing access and eradicating illegal online gambling sites.
Online gambling is not only a legal issue, but also a moral and social issue. When a society is overshadowed by digital gambling, more and more individuals will be trapped in a vicious circle of dependence and great loss. Therefore, it is not only law enforcement that needs to be strengthened, but also our collective awareness as a nation to protect the next generation from this destructive threat.
)* The author is a student living in Jakarta.
