The rapid advancement of technology should have brought tremendous benefits to society. Yet behind the ease of digital access lies a dangerous trap ensnaring millions of people across all ages: online gambling. This activity is not only illegal but also deeply destructive — eroding social structures, draining family economies, and inflicting severe psychological harm. In this context, digital literacy becomes the most crucial weapon to save the public from this deadly digital snare.
The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) reported that in less than a year, transactions linked to online gambling reached hundreds of trillions of rupiah. PPATK Head Ivan Yustiavandana explained that most of these funds flow abroad through illegal cross-border financial networks. This not only indicates a massive leakage in the national economy but also reveals how deeply cybercrime has infiltrated Indonesia’s digital sphere. Online gambling, often starting from curiosity or peer influence, serves as an entry point into a dark economic system that drains the nation’s resources.
Beyond economic losses, online gambling victims face even more severe social impacts. Many people lose their savings, confidence, and relationships as they spiral into compulsive gambling. The addiction cycle makes it extremely difficult to stop, even after repeated financial losses. Families of the victims are often the ones who suffer most — marriages collapse, children are neglected, and households fall into new cycles of poverty driven by destructive digital behavior.
The government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), has taken large-scale measures to curb the spread of online gambling. Minister Meutya Hafid stated that millions of gambling-related sites and contents have been blocked since early 2025. However, she emphasized that technical blocking alone is not enough. Each time one site is shut down, new ones appear within hours. This phenomenon demonstrates that the fight against online gambling will not succeed without public awareness and self-restraint. This is where digital literacy becomes vital — not merely as the ability to use technology, but the capacity to understand risks, detect manipulation, and exercise self-control in cyberspace.
Digital literacy also means training the public to think critically about the false promises of the online world. Advertisements claiming “easy wins” or “quick cash” that flood social media are psychological traps meant to lure users into digital schemes. Those with low digital literacy are easily deceived and lose their ability to assess risks. Therefore, digital literacy campaigns must focus on fostering skepticism and critical awareness toward all forms of instant gratification that could lead to ruin.
From a health perspective, the impact of online gambling is equally dangerous. Dr. Irmansyah Putra, Sp.KJ, Director of Mental Health Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, stated that online gambling addiction is categorized as a serious behavioral disorder. Addicts experience chemical changes in the brain that trigger artificial pleasure when winning and intense frustration when losing. This emotional roller coaster keeps them trapped, even when fully aware of their financial losses. The Ministry of Health has recorded a sharp increase in digital addiction-related mental disorders over the past two years, most of which are linked to online gambling.
Dr. Irmansyah emphasized that this kind of addiction requires a holistic recovery approach — education, counseling, and social support. He warned that digital addiction should not be underestimated, as its effects can be as devastating as substance abuse. Prevention, he noted, must start early, within families and schools. Children should be taught to recognize deceptive digital content and understand that success comes not from instant luck but from hard work and integrity.
Beyond the government’s efforts, society also bears a moral responsibility to close the space for online gambling. A permissive social environment toward speculative behavior only normalizes gambling in digital culture. The media, religious leaders, and community groups must actively raise awareness of the dangers of online gambling in accessible language, ensuring the message reaches all layers of society.
What we face is not merely a legal violation but a social phenomenon that can erode an entire generation if left unchecked. Online gambling is not just about losing money — it’s about losing control over one’s life. Strong digital literacy will serve as the final defense to prevent people from falling deeper into the deceptive abyss of the digital world.
The younger generation must be at the forefront of this movement. Those most familiar with technology must also be the most aware of its dangers. Rejecting online gambling means upholding human values in the digital realm. It is not merely a personal choice but a social responsibility to protect the nation’s moral and economic future. Let us stop now — not out of fear of loss, but because we choose to live intelligently, healthily, and with dignity in an increasingly digital world.
*) The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Institute for Strategic Information Studies.
