By: Bara Winatha*)
The government is demonstrating increasing seriousness in eradicating the increasingly worrying online gambling (judol). This phenomenon is not simply a legal violation, but has become a complex social and economic threat. Various data and facts on the ground show that online gambling practices not only drain victims’ finances but also trigger psychological disorders, break up households, and even result in death. Understanding that this problem has cross-sectoral dimensions, the government is fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies, regulators, the financial sector, and technology industry players to disrupt the operational chain of online gambling networks.
The Head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), Ivan Yustiavandana, stated that the government will not allow the social impact of online gambling to claim more lives and the futures of citizens. Based on data from the first quarter of 2025, PPATK recorded that deposits from players aged 10–16 reached more than IDR 2.2 billion. Meanwhile, those aged 17–19 contributed IDR 47.9 billion, and the highest figure was among those aged 31–40, reaching IDR 2.5 trillion. Even more concerning, 71.6% of players come from groups earning less than IDR 5 million per month and have loans outside formal banking channels.
The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) believes that one of the keys to successful eradication is maintaining the security of customer accounts to prevent them from being exploited by criminals. This step is crucial given that online gambling systems are designed to make players lose, resulting in victims not only losing money but also falling into a cycle of addiction that is difficult to break. Ivan emphasized that enforcement must target not only perpetrators on the ground, but also the bookies and parties involved in digital-based money laundering.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) is strengthening its role by monitoring and taking action against negative content in the digital space. Komdigi’s Director General of Digital Space Supervision, Alexander Sabar, stated that handling online gambling content is a priority, given its widespread distribution on social media. Between October 20, 2024, and August 10, 2025, Komdigi successfully handled 2,527,659 pieces of negative content. Of this number, 1,948,350 were online gambling content, followed by pornography, fraud, and other violations such as terrorism, hoaxes, and issues of ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup relations (SARA).
Social media platforms have become the dominant channel for the distribution of prohibited content. Meta, for example, recorded 107,206 online gambling content sites, followed by X with 39,478, Google with 32,409, and TikTok with 5,463. Furthermore, thousands of content sites circulate through Telegram, MiChat, and file-sharing services. This effort is being handled by collaborating with various parties, including law enforcement agencies and internet service providers, to create a safe digital ecosystem. According to Alexander, the success of enforcement actions depends not only on detection and blocking technology but also on strong cross-agency coordination.
In addition to legal and technological interventions, prevention through public education is one of the front lines in breaking the chain of problems. The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Dr. Fauzan, M.Pd., stated that new students, as the nation’s next generation, must be equipped with awareness of the threats of online gambling from an early age. During the 2025 Introduction to Campus Life for New Students (PKKMB) at Udayana University, he emphasized the importance of building mental resilience, adaptive skills, and digital literacy as strategic steps to enable the younger generation to resist the temptations of online gambling and drug abuse.
The synergy between the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), Komdigi, and the education sector reflects a cross-sector collaboration model that is key to eradicating online gambling in Indonesia. PPATK focuses on detecting and blocking illegal fund flows, Komdigi addresses the distribution of prohibited content, and educational institutions build awareness and mental resilience among young people. This approach forms a chain of custody encompassing prevention, enforcement, and social rehabilitation.
The government recognizes that repressive measures alone are insufficient. Therefore, digital literacy for the general public has become an additional focus. Education is carried out through public campaigns, integration of materials into the educational curriculum, and the involvement of community leaders and influencers to spread anti-online gambling messages. The goal is to raise collective awareness that every click on online gambling sites contributes to larger crimes, including human trafficking, money laundering, and the funding of other illegal activities.
On a technical level, internet service providers (ISPs) are required to block websites and applications identified as online gambling platforms. Fintech companies and banks are urged to tighten transaction verification to prevent the circulation of illicit funds. Social media platforms are also encouraged to develop more sophisticated detection algorithms and respond quickly to reports of gambling content. All of these steps are aimed at closing loopholes frequently exploited by digital criminal networks.
The government aims to create a healthy digital ecosystem, where technology is used to encourage productivity, creativity, and innovation, rather than as a vehicle for crime. With a strategy that combines law enforcement, technology, education, and cross-sector collaboration, the government is optimistic about curbing the spread of online gambling in Indonesia. This success will depend heavily on active public participation in rejecting and reporting all forms of online gambling activity to protect the future of the nation’s future generations.
*)The author is a social and community observer.
