Young Generation Synergizes with the Police to Create an Indonesia Free from Online Gambling
By: William Rizki
The massive development of digital technology has brought about major changes in various aspects of life, including entertainment patterns and social interactions in society. Behind the benefits provided, digital transformation also poses serious challenges, one of which is the rampant practice of online gambling that is increasingly targeting the younger generation. Online gambling is no longer just a marginal phenomenon, but has become a latent threat that erodes morals, damages the future, and ensnares the psychology and economy of young Indonesians. Therefore, there needs to be cross-sector synergy, especially between the younger generation and law enforcement officers, in order to create a healthy and clean social and digital ecosystem free from online gambling practices.
Campus as a center for character and intellectual formation of the young generation, becomes the vanguard in the fight against social crimes such as Online Gambling. Concrete steps have been taken by the State Islamic University (UIN) Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi which firmly voiced its moral and academic commitment to reject all forms of gambling practices. Under the leadership of Rector Prof. Kaspul Anwar, UIN Jambi initiated an anti-Online Gambling declaration involving the entire academic community. The five commitments declared at that moment were not only a form of rejection, but also an affirmation of the campus’ identity as an agent of social change.
More than just a statement, UIN Jambi invites students to stay away from all forms of involvement in gambling activities, both directly and indirectly. This includes rejecting promotions, using campus facilities for such practices, and rejecting a permissive attitude towards the gambling culture that is developing in society. The campus also emphasizes the role of students as pioneers of the movement to be aware of the dangers of gambling, through education, social preaching, and real action based on local wisdom. In this context, educational institutions not only teach and research, but also shape the character and morals of the nation’s children.
Similar movements also received a positive response from law enforcement officers. The Jambi Regional Police (Polda) actively opened up collaboration spaces with students through public discussions and educational forums. Head of Public Relations of the Jambi Police, Senior Commissioner Mulia Prianto, said that preventing digital crimes such as Online Gambling cannot be handled by the police alone, but requires collective involvement from all elements of society, especially the younger generation. Therefore, an educational approach is used as the main strategy in building collective awareness, before repressive steps need to be taken.
Discussions facilitated by the police are not only aimed at opening the young generation’s insight into the dangers of Online Gambling, but also at instilling social responsibility among students to become digital literacy agents in their respective environments. This effort is important considering that Online Gambling crimes exploit technological gaps that are difficult to detect conventionally. In this case, synergy between students as owners of intellectual potential and officers as holders of legal authority is the key to creating a healthy and productive digital space.
On the other hand, investment and financial observer I Wayan Nuka Lantara highlighted that the interest of the younger generation in Online Gambling is largely due to the ease of access and the lure of big profits with small capital. Online gambling platforms are currently very easy to access via smart devices, plus a digital payment system that makes transactions easier. The social environment that is permissive of the practice further exacerbates the condition, where activities prohibited by state law and religious norms are often considered normal, even fun.
Wayan explained that the impact of Online Gambling is very damaging, not only from an economic aspect, but also from a psychological and mental health perspective. Addiction to gambling can cause what is called a gambling disorder, a condition in which a person continues to gamble despite experiencing major losses. This behavior is like digging a deeper hole—the longer a person gambles, the more he or she falls into the trap of the illusion of profit. If not stopped, this condition has the potential to destroy the future of the younger generation.
Given the complexity of this issue, a repressive approach alone is not enough. It requires multi-actor collaboration, including educational institutions, community leaders, the media, and law enforcement officers. The younger generation must be empowered, given space to speak up, and involved in active campaigns to reject Online Gambling. This kind of synergy has begun to form in Jambi Province, and can be used as a model for national collaboration in eradicating gambling-based digital crimes.
It must be acknowledged that the main challenge in combating Online Gambling is not only in the legal system, but also in collective awareness. The public needs to understand that this practice not only violates the law, but also destroys the noble values of the nation. Students as representatives of educated youth play an important role as agents of change. The apparatus as guardians of state law must continue to open participatory spaces for the younger generation, educate continuously, and take firm action against the network of Online Gambling platform providers.
By making synergy between the younger generation and the authorities a primary strategy, Indonesia can create a collective moral movement towards a digitally and socially healthy society. The efforts that have begun in Jambi are a promising start to be brought to the national level. Great hopes are on the shoulders of young people, who not only have intellectual strength, but also social sensitivity to protect the future of the nation from destructive threats such as Online Gambling.
*The author is an Anti-Online Gambling Community Activist
