By: Made Prawira ) *
Digital-based gambling practices are now a serious threat that is disturbing various levels of society. Not only targeting individuals through social media and applications, now this activity has even infiltrated official sites owned by local governments, threatening public trust in digital services and worsening the economic vulnerability of the community.
This phenomenon cannot be underestimated. Online gambling is growing rapidly not because people do not know the risks, but because this game is often packaged as a “shortcut” to gain profit. In difficult economic situations, many people are tempted to try it, hoping that luck will come. In fact, the opposite is true: online gambling will only deepen the economic downturn, erode productivity, and damage the social order.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) through the Directorate General of Digital Space Supervision noted that at least 60,458 Online Gambling content infiltrated government sites from 2022 to mid-2025. This is not a small number, and reflects how massive and systematic the current online gambling network operations are.
The steps taken by Kemkomdigi, such as routine cyber patrols and sending notifications to regional site managers, are concrete forms of prevention efforts. If there is no handling within 2×24 hours, Kemkomdigi will coordinate with the Directorate General of Digital Government Technology (Ditjen TPD) to try to cut off access.
Another step is the opening of a public complaint channel through the aduankonten.id site , as well as a special channel for government agencies to be able to report negative content more quickly. Involving the public and state institutions in supervision is an important strategy to eradicate harmful content systematically.
Deputy for Analysis and Examination of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), Danang Tri Hartono, revealed that online gambling transaction patterns are now increasingly sophisticated. Not only using bank accounts, but also credit deposits, digital wallets, QRIS, even through e-commerce.
Ironically, many of these transactions use accounts or accounts in the names of other people whose identities are traded. This is not only a violation of the law, but also a form of exploitation of economically vulnerable citizens. Selling personal accounts for quick money can actually land individuals in legal trouble, because their identities are used for criminal acts.
PPATK itself has blocked 200 thousand accounts suspected of being involved in online gambling transactions. This shows the scale of the problem is not small. Danang also added that 70 percent of online gambling players come from low-income families, with incomes below Rp5 million per month. This proves that online gambling does not enrich anyone, but rather targets groups that are most easily trapped in a cycle of debt and addiction.
Online gambling brings various negative impacts that are devastating both from an individual and social perspective. From a psychological perspective, this game triggers acute addiction similar to narcotics. Players find it difficult to stop even though they continue to lose, and over time they begin to lose control over their finances, time, and social relationships.
At the economic level, many families lose resources because one member of the household is trapped in online gambling. Starting from selling valuables, pawning assets, to borrowing money from illegal loans (pinjol), all of this often occurs due to psychological pressure from consecutive losses in Online Gambling.
Not only that, from a social perspective, Online Gambling triggers moral degradation and productivity values. Children who see their parents gambling can imitate these bad habits. Society is also starting to be permissive towards dishonest, opportunistic, and manipulative behavior in order to gain instant profit.
PPATK data shows that online gambling perpetrators are not only in big cities, but also reach rural areas with increasingly wide digital penetration. This threatens workforce productivity, disrupts the focus of young people’s education, and widens the economic gap because money that should be circulating in the real sector actually flows into cross-country digital crime networks.
The government through Kemkomdigi and PPATK has shown serious commitment in facing this threat. However, law enforcement and access termination alone are not enough. Massive public education is needed so that the public has awareness and resilience to this kind of digital trap.
Digital literacy education is the main key. The public needs to know that not everything that is present in cyberspace is safe or legal. Content and promotions that promise “instant money” need to be criticized. Likewise, invitations from friends or advertisements on social media that direct to certain sites must be watched out for.
The role of families, schools, community leaders, and religious institutions is needed to build an ecosystem that encourages a healthy and productive lifestyle, rather than dependence on apparent luck.
Prevention efforts must also touch the financial and technological realms. Electronic payment service providers, e-commerce, and telecommunications operators need to strengthen verification systems and early detection of suspicious transactions related to online gambling.
Online gambling is not just a digital crime, but a real threat to the future of the nation’s generation. In a challenging economic situation, the way out is not to gamble, but to strengthen solidarity, work hard, and maintain integrity.
Let us be aware of the digital trap called online gambling. Do not let the lure of instant profits lead us into real losses. The government has moved, now is the time for the community to take part. Together we can combat Online Gambling, for a safer, healthier, and more dignified life.
)* The author is a contributor to the Advanced Young Indonesia Network (JMIM)
