The Indonesian government has taken steps to block internet access from Cambodia and the Philippines as part of its commitment to eradicating online gambling within the country.
Officials indicate the possibility of extending this restriction to more countries. The Director General of Information and Public Communication at the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Usman Kansong, notes that the situation is being monitored closely.
Usman explained that these two countries were targeted because they have the highest number of online gambling sites infiltrating Indonesia.
Despite this, Usman acknowledged that online gambling activities are likely to occur in many other countries. He mentioned that any further blocking measures would be considered based on their urgency and necessity.
He pointed out that other ASEAN countries also host servers that could facilitate online gambling, so the government will evaluate the specific needs and priorities before taking additional action.
According to Budi Arie Setiadi, the Minister of Communication and Information, the government’s actions through the online gambling eradication task force have successfully reduced online gambling transactions in Indonesia by about 50 percent.
Data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) in 2024 show that the task force’s efforts have decreased public access to online gambling by 50 percent and reduced public deposits on online gambling sites by a total of IDR34.49 trillion ($212 million), as reported on Thursday, July 25th.
