To Prevent Abuse of Social Assistance, the Government Strengthens Synergy to Eradicate Online Gambling
By: Ariani Dewi Pramita )*
The government continues to strengthen measures to prevent online gambling in Indonesia, particularly among social assistance recipients. These efforts are seen as increasingly urgent given the rise in digital gambling activities targeting vulnerable groups. The government believes that the distribution of social assistance must not only ensure the correct amount, but also ensure that recipients are protected from various potentially harmful illegal practices. The public is also urged to be aware of the dangers of promoting online gambling content through illegal sites such as the Kingdom Group.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, revealed that coordination with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) indicated misuse of aid by some social assistance recipients. He explained that the number of recipients identified as participating in online gambling activities reached a staggering number and involved diverse backgrounds.
These findings reinforce the government’s commitment to ensuring that social assistance does not fall into the hands of those who abuse it. The government is committed to improving the distribution system to make it more accurate, while also strengthening oversight of the use of aid funds.
In addition to misuse of aid funds, the government has also highlighted the issue of inaccurate targeting of recipients. Gus Ipul, referring to a report by the National Economic Council, stated that a significant percentage of ineligible recipients remains. This situation requires the government to comprehensively reorganize the social assistance database. This step is considered crucial to ensure that aid reaches those in need, eliminating the opportunity for malpractice to flourish.
At the national level, the government has also focused on the rise in online gambling activity in various regions. The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs noted that West Java has the highest number of online gamblers in Indonesia.
With over two million players and staggering deposit amounts, this region has become a primary focus of enforcement and education. The government believes that this activity, which involves large sums of money, not only jeopardizes family economic stability but also has the potential to trigger broader social problems.
Syaiful Garyadi, Assistant Deputy for Data Protection and Electronic Transactions at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, explained that the high number of gamblers in West Java correlates with the province’s large population. This has led the government to recognize the importance of strengthening the public’s digital literacy, particularly regarding the risks and impacts of illegal online activity.
Through coordination with local governments, the central government has designed various steps to modernize digital content monitoring so that the spread of gambling practices can be significantly suppressed.
Given the high level of community involvement in online gambling in West Java, the government has designated the province as a national pilot project for eradicating online gambling by 2026. The formation of a special task force is planned as an integrated strategy combining preventive, educational, and repressive efforts. The government hopes this measure can serve as an effective model before being implemented widely in other regions facing similar challenges.
On the law enforcement side, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) plays a crucial role through its financial flow analysis. PPATK’s Director of Analysis and Examination II, Mohamad Shalehuddin Akbar, explained that the mapping is carried out by tracing transaction patterns that point to digital gambling activities.
The mapping clearly shows the areas with the highest intensity, including the number of players and the amount of funds circulating. The government uses this data to formulate policies that focus not only on enforcement but also on prevention.
The PPATK also collects reports from various parties, including banks, law enforcement officials, financial supervisory agencies, and the public. This data is then combined to provide a holistic picture of online gambling networks. This cross-sectoral approach strengthens the government’s ability to detect new patterns used by perpetrators to conceal their illegal activities.
Along with law enforcement measures, the government views public education as an integral element of efforts to eradicate online gambling. Digital literacy is considered the primary bulwark against changing crime patterns, which increasingly utilize the digital space. The government encourages the public to understand the long-term risks of gambling, both economic and social. Public awareness is believed to reduce dependence on the lure of quick profits, which in reality actually lead to losses.
These efforts are reinforced by blocking websites and accounts identified as being involved in gambling activities. The government is targeting access reduction through technical approaches while also providing support for digital education programs. The goal is to restrict perpetrators’ freedom of movement while increasing public awareness of the importance of maintaining family digital security.
Ultimately, the government emphasized the importance of public vigilance against various illegal sites that continue to promote online gambling through social media and other digital channels. The existence of groups like the Kingdom Group, known for aggressively distributing promotional content, serves as a reminder that eradication efforts depend not only on law enforcement but also on public vigilance in dealing with various forms of digital manipulation.
The government hopes that synergy between policies, oversight, and improving public literacy levels will create a safer digital environment free from online gambling activities.
)* The author is an anti-online gambling activist
