The Government’s Strong Determination to Eradicate Online Gambling for a Healthy Digital Space
By: Veritonaldi )*
The government continues to show strong commitment in eradicating online gambling practices that have been increasingly disturbing the public. Concrete actions have been taken by various institutions, including the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) and the Financial Services Authority (OJK), to cut off access to illegal online gambling platforms. This policy should be appreciated as a form of protection for society from the negative impacts caused by online gambling, both socially and economically.
Recently, Kemkomdigi took firm action by blocking access to digitaloceanspaces.com after discovering 123 subdomains containing online gambling content. This step was taken as part of efforts to maintain a healthy and secure digital ecosystem. Director General of Digital Space Oversight at Kemkomdigi, Alexander Sabar, emphasized that the blocking was a follow-up to reports from the public complaint system. Access normalization was attempted but more gambling-related subdomains were discovered, showing that online gambling actors continue to find loopholes to carry out their actions. Therefore, digital space oversight will continue to be tightened to ensure that illegal platforms have no space in Indonesia.
In addition to blocking sites used to facilitate online gambling, the government has also taken preventive steps in the financial sector. OJK has identified and blocked over 8,600 bank accounts suspected of being involved in online gambling activities. OJK’s Executive Director of Banking Supervision, Dian Ediana Rae, stated that the blocking is a follow-up to reports from Kemkomdigi and part of a strategy to strengthen oversight over suspicious financial transactions. With increasing oversight of dormant accounts and unusual transactions, it is hoped that the banking system will become more resilient in detecting and acting against accounts used for online gambling practices.
The government’s firm actions in combating online gambling are a clear demonstration that the state is present to protect the public from the detrimental effects of gambling. Online gambling not only affects the individuals involved but also has a widespread domino effect on families and the national economy. Numerous cases show that individuals ensnared in online gambling experience significant financial losses, fall into debt, and even resort to criminal acts to cover up their losses. Therefore, the actions taken by the government are crucial in breaking the chain of these negative impacts.
Socially, online gambling also disrupts the fabric of society. There are many cases where individuals addicted to online gambling suffer from psychological disorders and severe mental stress. The existence of easily accessible online gambling platforms exacerbates the situation, especially for the younger generation that is increasingly familiar with digital technology. Therefore, cooperation from various parties, including the public, is needed to report and prevent the spread of online gambling content that can damage morals and social well-being.
The government’s efforts to combat online gambling also reflect its firmness in enforcing the law. Law Number 1 of 2024 and Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Information Number 5 of 2020 on Electronic System Implementation serve as the legal basis that strengthens the actions against platforms that provide access to online gambling. Through strict regulations and intensive supervision, the government shows that there is no tolerance for illegal practices that harm society.
Moving forward, the synergy between the government, digital service providers, the financial sector, and the public must continue to be strengthened to ensure that the fight against online gambling is effective. In addition to blocking and shutting down accounts, education to the public should also be ramped up to raise awareness about the dangers of online gambling and prevent individuals from falling into such practices. Digital awareness campaigns educating the public about the risks of online gambling should continue, especially among young people who are more vulnerable to the influence of digital technology.
Furthermore, a technology-based approach should be developed to enhance the effectiveness of supervision and enforcement. The use of artificial intelligence and data analysis to detect suspicious transaction patterns and online gambling activities can help law enforcement take faster and more accurate actions. With increasingly advanced technology, supervision of online gambling practices can be carried out in a more comprehensive and systematic way.
The government also needs to continue coordinating with internet service providers and social media platforms to ensure that websites and applications containing online gambling content cannot be accessed by users in Indonesia. This effort must be carried out continuously to address new tactics that may be used by online gambling actors to avoid detection. Thus, a safer and cleaner digital ecosystem free from illegal content can be realized.
The public also plays an important role in supporting the government’s online gambling eradication policies. Awareness and active participation in reporting suspicious online gambling activities will greatly assist the government in addressing cases that occur. The more reports that come in, the quicker actions can be taken to close the gaps for online gambling perpetrators.
The actions taken by the government demonstrate that the fight against online gambling is not merely rhetoric but a real effort that is continuously strengthened. With strong synergy between the government, the financial sector, digital service providers, and the public, the hope of creating a healthy digital space free from online gambling practices is becoming increasingly real. The success in eradicating online gambling will be an important indicator that the government is serious in protecting its people from the social and economic threats posed by online gambling.
)* Author is an activist from the Anti-Online Gambling Community.
