Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan revealed in a press conference in November 2024 that the turnover of funds and online gambling transactions in Indonesia was worth Rp900 trillion (US$53 billion).
During the same period, the government announced that 8.8 million Indonesians were involved in online gambling, with most belonging to the lower middle economic class.
The government has made several efforts to eradicate this practice to protect the entire community. ANTARA has compiled various policies implemented in 2024 to eradicate online gambling.
Access termination
The government has taken this step since 2017 by closing access to content or websites related to online gambling to break the chain of online gambling development.
In 2024, the government terminated access to at least tens of thousands of websites, social media accounts, and content suspected of being related to online gambling.
Data from the Ministry of Communication and Digital from 2017 to December 17, 2024, showed that the government had cut off access to 5.4 million pieces of online gambling content.
All content and closing access to websites affiliated with online gambling were obtained through various methods, ranging from government cybersecurity patrols to public complaints via aduankonten.id and WhatsApp number 0811-9224-545.
Financial and digital literacy
The government is also intensifying digital literacy to help citizens identify and steer clear of the hazards posed by online gambling.
The government has provided the website https://s.id/bersamastopjudol to access references to educational materials, including a copy of Presidential Decree Number 21 of 2024, informative booklets to prevent online gambling, and educational videos and campaign materials on combating online gambling.
Working with influential figures in the community, authorities conducted targeted digital awareness sessions to educate local groups about the dangers of online gambling.
Communication and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid urged priests in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to educate their congregations on the dangers of online gambling.
Another step taken is directly disseminating information targeting groups of housewives in Cilincing, North Jakarta, by inviting Ustadz Abdul Somad as a speaker.
Task Force formation
In mid-2024, the government identified online gambling as a national threat. Indonesia's seventh President, Joko Widodo, then formed an Online Gambling Handling Task Force based on Presidential Decree Number 21 of 2024 concerning the Online Gambling Eradication Task Force.
This task force has continued to work in the new administration since October 2024 under the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs.
Closing NAP access to Cambodia and the Philippines
The task force immediately requested telecommunications providers to block the Network Access Point (NAP) to Cambodia and Davao, the Philippines.
The request is based on the letter from the Ministry of Communication and Information and also refers to the provisions of Law Number 36 of 1999 concerning Telecommunications.
The duration of the blockage will be reassessed for immediate restoration if the situation evolves. NAP is also urged to report the steps taken to disconnect along with the implementation results for evaluation and follow-up.
Education via SMS Blast
The government teamed up with Indonesian cellular operators to send SMS blasts with text messages explaining the dangers of online gambling. This policy came into effect in June 2024 and is actively running after the inauguration of the Online Gambling Handling Task Force.
Opening online gambling hotline
Apart from providing the aduankonten.id channel for online gambling, the government has opened a Stop Online Gambling hotline via the contact number 0811-1001-5080.
This contact number is provided for people who have experienced online gambling addiction and are seeking solutions to stop it. This service can also be used to report online access to online gambling.
The National Police also opened a complaint channel at 0855-5555-4141 for the public to monitor law enforcement officers proven to be affiliated with online gambling.
Public witnessing violations by police officers engaging in online gambling or being affiliated with such illicit practices can submit a report to the contact number.
Phone credit transfer restrictions
Limiting phone credit transfers to a maximum of Rp1 million (US$59) is a strategy set by the government and telecommunications industry to eradicate online gambling, which also uses phone credit as a transaction medium.
The government found that online gambling practices using phone credit as a medium of transaction had a daily turnover of money ranging from Rp100 million (US$5.960) to Rp1 billion (US$59 thousand).
Hence, the government decided to limit phone credit transfers for prepaid service users to a maximum nominal of Rp1 million.
The decision was taken to ensure that business actors selling phone credit do not lose their income.
Closing access to free VPNs
Of the 20 to 30 Virtual Private Network (VPN) service providers in Indonesia, the government closed access to services from several free VPN providers over indications of access to online gambling websites.
The government did not close paid VPN service since it targeted different market segmentation and utilization.
Law enforcement for online gambling cases
In addition to strengthening various online gambling prevention programs, the government, through law enforcement officers, has also taken action against criminals affiliated with online gambling.
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit, in a meeting with Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) in November, explained that his side had revealed 6,386 online gambling cases from 2020 to 2024.
Of the thousands of cases, the National Police managed to name 9,096 suspects, successfully confiscated assets worth Rp861.8 billion (US$51 thousand), and blocked 5,991 accounts and 68,108 sites.
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Translator: Livia Kristianti, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
