"We must be wise in using digital services so as not to get caught in illegal online loans with high interest or online gambling," Yudhoyono, nicknamed Ibas, said in a statement released on Wednesday.
Speaking at a seminar to raise digital awareness, he informed that the number of online gambling application users in 2025 is estimated to have reached 8.8 million. The figure includes around 80 thousand children aged 10 years, he added.
The group of online gambling players is dominated by people in the 30–50 age group, who account for 40 percent or around 1.64 million of the players, and people over 50 years old, who make up 34 percent or around 1.35 million of the players.
The total turnover from online gambling in Indonesia reached approximately Rp500 trillion in 2024, he said.
Online gambling can worsen the situation of society, especially the lower middle class, by increasingly burdening people with gambling debt and online loans, Yudhoyono added.
He said that this can encourage people to commit crimes, triggering insecurity in residential areas.
"It (addiction to online gambling) can cause debt, prolonged stress, and mental disorders that eventually lead to criminal acts. This is a very wrong circle," he emphasized.
According to Yudhoyono, the government has made many efforts to eradicate online gambling, such as the blocking of 5 thousand accounts linked to 3.5 million persons suspected of being involved in online loans and gambling by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has also closed around 3,517 illegal online loan services that have generated a total loss of around Rp700 billion.
In addition, the National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN) received 381 complaints of total losses of Rp202.6 billion in 2024.
However, he said those efforts are not enough. Yudhoyono expressed the hope that the government will also improve public awareness about the dangers of online gambling.
"Education is also needed to improve awareness on the importance of avoiding misleading practices so that the entire community can better understand the risks and alternative solutions rather than participating in online gambling and illegal online loans," he explained.
He also asked the government to use efficient and firm methods to eradicate online gambling activities and illegal online loans in Indonesia.
"We must also take firm action and enforce regulations without discrimination to break the chain of rampant digital crime," he stressed.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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