The Indonesian government has made significant strides in reducing illegal online gambling activities throughout 2024, bolstering its crackdown and mitigation strategies.
The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs recently reported a notable decline in gambling transactions over the past year, Xinhua reported.
Transactions fell from IDR21 trillion ($1.28 billion) in the first quarter to IDR16 trillion ($978 million) in the second quarter, and further plummeted to IDR4 trillion ($244.5 million) in the third quarter.
“These figures reflect positive progress, with a decreasing number of online gambling transactions,” stated Alexander Sabar, director of digital space supervision at the ministry, during a recent meeting with the Indonesian parliament in Jakarta.
The official attributed the decline to the government’s aggressive efforts to block access to gambling sites and remove content promoting such activities.
Since early 2017, the ministry has removed a staggering 5.7 million online gambling-related content pieces from various websites and applications. In 2024 alone, authorities blocked 3.5 million pieces of content.
In addition to enforcement, Indonesian authorities are ramping up digital literacy campaigns, particularly in rural areas, to educate citizens about the risks of online gambling.
These initiatives include social media campaigns, direct outreach to local communities, and community-based education programs aimed at dispelling the myth of easy profits from online gambling.
“Blocking websites and content is not enough, as one of the main reasons people engage in online gambling is addiction,” said Meutya Hafid, Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs.
The country has faced challenges in combating online gambling, with the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) reporting that at least 8.8 million Indonesians were involved in online gambling in 2024, including 80,000 children under the age of 10.
Disturbingly, reports have surfaced of government officials participating in online gambling activities.
PPATK head Ivan Yustiavandana revealed that several village heads misused village funds for gambling, totaling around IDR40 billion ($2.44 million). Recently, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs dismissed 10 employees for involvement in online gambling.
The National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) has formed a special task force dedicated to addressing data protection, cybercrime eradication, and public communication. This includes monitoring for online gambling access links embedded in the domains and subdomains of government websites using advanced techniques.
“We conduct 24-hour monitoring of domains and subdomains, utilizing a sensor system to patrol data for any links related to online gambling,” stated Dominggus Pakel, deputy for cybersecurity operations and cryptography at BSSN, during the parliamentary meeting.
