Collaboration Government and Family to Protect the Young Generation from the Dangers of Online Gambling
By: Fikri Hidayat Ramadhan )*
Online gambling is increasingly becoming a serious threat to the young generation in Indonesia. National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo emphasized that prevention efforts must start from the family environment. Currently, online gambling is not only targeting adults but also minors. The perpetrators are getting smarter in attracting attention by changing the appearance of the game to look like a regular game, so that children can easily fall into it without realizing it.
With increasingly easy access via mobile phones and the internet, many individuals, including children, fall into this practice without realizing the consequences. Games that are packaged to resemble regular games tempt many people to try, until they finally become addicted and experience significant financial losses. Many families experience economic pressure due to family members being trapped in online gambling, which often leads to illegal online loans and mounting debt.
The impact of online gambling addiction is very broad, ranging from financial losses to damaged social and psychological relationships. The Chief of Police reminded that parental supervision is very important in preventing children from being exposed to online gambling. With the increasing private nature of this game, parents must actively check their children’s cellphones regularly and provide early education about the dangers of online gambling. If not supervised, it is feared that the younger generation will experience moral and economic damage in the future.
In addition to families, the government has also taken strategic steps to eradicate online gambling. Based on a report from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the accumulation of funds flowing abroad due to online gambling has reached hundreds of trillions of rupiah. This situation has a major impact on the national economy, so handling it requires the involvement of all parties, including law enforcement officers and financial institutions.
Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Syamsu Rizal, assessed that online gambling should be declared a national emergency considering the increasing number of victims. He highlighted the tragic case in South Tangerang where a young family was found dead due to financial pressure from online gambling and online loans. According to him, the impact of this practice is extraordinary and must be handled immediately and comprehensively. He added that this phenomenon is included in the category of extraordinary crimes because it affects many aspects of people’s lives.
He added that more than IDR 1 trillion in online gambling money has flowed abroad. This is contrary to the government’s efforts to attract investment and maintain economic stability. The President has even issued instructions to restrict foreign travel to control the flow of funds, but the challenges of online gambling have not been fully resolved. If there are no concrete efforts, the national economy could be further negatively impacted.
In dealing with this problem, handling cannot be done partially. All stakeholders must be involved, including universities, religious leaders, and security forces. Syamsu Rizal emphasized that national resilience is also threatened by the rampant practice of online gambling, so stricter regulations are needed to overcome this problem. In addition, public awareness must be increased so that they are not easily tempted by the promise of instant profits offered by online gambling.
Online gambling not only impacts individuals but also social life in general. Of the total 270 million Indonesians, around 40 million have been affected by online gambling, with the majority coming from the productive age group. Data shows that around 8 million people are actively playing online gambling, resulting in a decline in the quality of human resources that has the potential to hinder the achievement of the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045. This is a serious concern because it will affect the nation’s competitiveness in the future.
Given its wide-ranging impact, families have a major role in prevention. Parents must limit children’s gadget use and provide an understanding of the dangers of online gambling. In addition, the school environment must also be involved in education, so that children are more aware of the risks posed by the game. With this approach, it is hoped that children can understand the negative consequences of gambling and are not easily tempted to try.
