Synergy to Eradicate Online Gambling Prevents Economic Crisis and Mental Disorders in Young People
By: Anisa Aulia Permatasari*)
Online gambling practices are now a serious threat to family resilience, social stability, and the future of Indonesia’s young generation. Online gambling addiction triggers depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Addicts lose the ability to control their urge to gamble, damage family relationships, and experience a decline in work productivity. Financial disruption due to losing gambling worsens psychological conditions, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break.
Indonesian House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani called for firm and immediate steps from the government to eradicate this illicit practice. She assessed that the impact of online gambling has spread to the realm of crime and mental health, so it can no longer be considered trivial.
Puan highlighted data from the Ministry of Communication and Digital which showed that around 80 thousand children under the age of 10 have been exposed to online gambling through games on mobile devices. This fact shows that access to gambling activities is increasingly uncontrolled, even reaching age groups that should be very protected.
He reminded that the rise of online gambling has caused various tragedies, including suicides and murders in families. One real example occurred in Central Sulawesi, where a man killed his biological mother due to online gambling addiction. On the other hand, a 27-year-old young man ended his life because he could not bear the psychological burden of the addiction.
Reports from the National Human Rights Commission and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) have also reinforced these concerns. Both noted a significant spike in cases of domestic violence, child neglect, and suicide that are closely related to online gambling practices.
In response to this situation, Puan urged that the handling of online gambling problems be carried out comprehensively. According to her, the government cannot work alone. The involvement of various parties is needed, starting from social media platforms, internet service providers, to the general public. Puan also reminded that data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) shows that the turnover of online gambling funds in Indonesia has reached IDR 1,200 trillion—a figure that even exceeds the national budget for the education sector.
The fantastic figure, according to Puan, is a reflection of the weakness of the digital financial supervision system that is currently in effect. She assessed that the spike in transaction value shows that regulations are still loose and supervision is not yet optimal. Therefore, she encouraged the government to immediately tighten existing regulations, strengthen digital literacy, and integrate online gambling danger campaigns into the education system, especially in schools.
Puan also reminded that the state should not be left behind by the expansion of financial technology utilized by online gambling players. Increasingly sophisticated technology makes existing regulations outdated. Therefore, proactive and adaptive steps are needed in updating regulations and strengthening supervisory capacity.
In law enforcement efforts, eradication should not only target small players. In fact, big bookies should be the main target to ensure justice. In addition, Puan emphasized the importance of the role of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and Bank Indonesia (BI) in monitoring suspicious fund flows, whether through banking, digital wallets, or cellular operators. She urged the two institutions not to hesitate to impose administrative sanctions on institutions that are proven to be negligent in carrying out their supervisory functions.
As a people’s representative, Puan stated that the Indonesian House of Representatives is committed to continuing to oversee efforts to eradicate online gambling. She invited all elements of the nation to unite in saving the younger generation from the destruction caused by this practice.
The problem of online gambling has also received international attention. A recent article published in The Lancet journal underlines the serious impact of online gambling on mental health, especially among the younger generation. The General Chair of the Indonesian Forensic Psychology Association, Nael Sumampouw, assessed that online gambling is currently at the level of a global health crisis, on par with the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
According to Nael, the ease of access and the absence of social sanctions make online gambling very dangerous, especially for young people. This phenomenon is increasingly complex because gambling activities are often wrapped in the form of games or games that seem harmless. As a result, many teenagers enter the world of gambling unknowingly, especially when they are looking for an escape from the pressures of life or unstable mental conditions.
Nael added that the characteristics of online gambling that can be accessed privately, such as from a bedroom, make environmental supervision almost impossible. In the beginning, players are often given small wins to lure addiction, then dragged into the illusion of winning mindset known as the gambler’s fallacy. In addition, socio-economic conditions such as unemployment, lack of skills, and lack of social support are also factors that drive young people to get caught up in online gambling.
The situation is further exacerbated by the existence of online loans that are often used to fund gambling habits. The combination of addiction and debt has left many young people experiencing a psychological condition known as learned helplessness—a feeling of helplessness because all efforts are in vain.
These psychological impacts are indiscriminate and can affect anyone. Those without a social support network or good survival skills are more likely to fall into extreme despair, even to the point where life is no longer considered meaningful.
Therefore, social and community approaches are very important in dealing with this problem. Families, schools, and the surrounding environment must be at the forefront in providing attention and assistance to those who begin to show signs of online gambling addiction.
Given the breadth of impact and complexity of the problem, it is time for the state to be present in a real and concrete way. Not only through legal action, but also with preventive, educational, and collaborative policies to protect the future of the nation’s generations.
*) The author is a Macroeconomic Analyst – Nusantara Economic Center (SEN)
