Online gambling is a scam with a system designed to ensure players almost always lose in the long run,
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid called on all parties to strengthen education and protection for families and children after nearly 200,000 Indonesian children were found to have been exposed to online gambling.

The figure includes around 80,000 children under the age of 10, raising serious concerns about the future of the nation’s youth.

“Online gambling is a scam with a system designed to ensure players almost always lose in the long run,” she said during a forum on combating online gambling in Medan on Wednesday.

According to Hafid, efforts to eradicate online gambling require more than just blocking access and enforcing the law; they also demand stronger digital literacy and greater public awareness.

"We are not just blocking access or taking down sites. The most important thing is reaching the wider public with these facts so that awareness grows from within families and communities," she asserted.

The minister expressed deep concern over the impact of online gambling on women and children. Many families, she noted, have reportedly lost their economic stability or even suffered domestic violence as a result of their family members becoming trapped in online gambling.

She added that while the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs continues to block online gambling sites and content, the effort must also be supported by cross-sector collaboration, including law enforcement authorities and digital platform operators.

Hafid further highlighted the growing prevalence of online gambling advertisements on social media, saying such content has become increasingly aggressive in targeting Indonesian users.

In response, the ministry has urged digital platforms — including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube— to take a more proactive role in removing online gambling-related content.

“Online gambling is banned in Indonesia. All parties must share the same moral and legal responsibility,” she stressed.

The minister also called on religious and community leaders, as well as families and local communities, to serve as the first line of defense against the spread of online gambling.



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Translator: Farika Nur, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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