The minister’s stance against online gambling stemmed from its detrimental impact on various aspects of society.
During the inauguration of the Cyber Crime and Online Gambling Task Force last July 19, 2024, he emphasized that online gambling has severely damaged community life and must no longer be tolerated. He cited examples of factories laying off employees due to their addiction to online gambling, which can lead to crime and unproductivity.
Minister Budi Arie also shared data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) revealing that over 4,000 military personnel, around 15 people in KomInfo, approximately a thousand members of DPR/DPRD, and 30 individuals in the KPK were exposed to online gambling. Such extensive penetration into various sectors highlights the urgency for further actions against this issue.
The Ministry of Communication and Information has been relentless in its efforts to eradicate online gambling content. In the one-year period from July 17, 2023, to July 17, 2024, KomInfo terminated access to over 2,552,749 gambling sites – a significant increase compared to the six years prior which saw only around 800,000 content blocks.
Indonesia’s struggle against online gambling a significant concern for Government
Olivia has worked as an editor and writer for major brands across multiple niches. She now focuses on the iGaming and sports betting industries.