Working Together to Combat Online Gambling to Protect the Future of the Nation
By: Tariq Gibran
Online gambling has become a real threat to society. Its impact is not only felt by individuals who experience financial losses, but also spreads to broader social problems. The rampant promotion of online gambling has worsened the situation, ensnaring many people in the illusion of instant profits which ultimately leads to the destruction of their economy and mentality, so that joint collaboration is needed to eradicate this crime.
The phenomenon of online gambling is increasingly disturbing and can be seen from the large number of online gambling content circulating on various digital platforms. Comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono, for example, revealed that he was also a victim due to the misuse of his content to promote online gambling without permission.
In addition, the comments column on his social media is also filled with gambling promotion spam. Pandji believes that the public actually has wider access to information about the dangers of online gambling and the stories of the victims. Therefore, he invites all parties to unite in reporting online gambling advertisements and promotions so that they can be eradicated completely.
In addition to harming individuals financially, online gambling also has serious psychological impacts. Many victims are trapped in a cycle of addiction, where they continue to hope for big profits, when in reality they are increasingly trapped in debt and economic ruin.
Acting Chair of the West Kalimantan PKK Team, Windy Prihastari Harisson, emphasized that online gambling not only threatens individual welfare, but also disrupts social security. Eradication efforts by closing sites or blocking accounts still need to be appreciated, but the root of the problem lies in the high addiction to online gambling.
Concrete steps taken by the government to combat online gambling include increasing supervision, stricter law enforcement, and educating the public. The digital literacy campaign is one of the main solutions that is expected to increase public awareness of the negative impacts of online gambling.
Acting Chair of the West Kalimantan PKK Team, Windy Prihastari emphasized that the public needs to be wiser in using technology so that they are not easily trapped in the illusion of instant profits offered by online gambling. Increasing understanding of digital literacy can be the main bulwark in preventing the spread of this online gambling practice.
Apart from the educational side, another problem that needs to be addressed is the rampant online gambling advertisements that often appear on various digital platforms. CISSREC Cyber Security Research Director, Pratama Persadha, explained that the spread of online gambling advertisements is not a coincidence, but the result of a marketing strategy that exploits regulatory loopholes in the digital ecosystem. Online gambling providers use algorithms to target users who have searched for information related to gambling or online loans, so they become the main targets of this type of advertisement.
With increasingly sophisticated digital technology, the spread of online gambling advertisements is becoming more massive and difficult to control. Digital platform algorithms continue to learn user behavior, so that individuals who have accessed or searched for information related to gambling will increasingly receive similar advertisements. This adds to the challenge in efforts to eradicate online gambling, because it is increasingly difficult for people to avoid exposure to online gambling promotions.
In dealing with this problem, collaboration between the government, society, and digital platforms is very important. The government needs to continue to tighten regulations and increase supervision of content circulating in cyberspace. Meanwhile, the community also has a big role in reporting and rejecting all forms of online gambling promotions that they encounter. Collective awareness and social concern are key factors in combating the rampant online gambling in Indonesia.
In addition, the role of the family is also very important in preventing family members from getting involved in online gambling. Parents and other family members need to be more proactive in educating children and adolescents about the dangers of online gambling. A family environment full of open communication and emotional support can be an initial fortress in preventing the younger generation from being tempted by the trap of online gambling.
The world of education also has a big role in building awareness of the dangers of online gambling. Schools and colleges can include digital literacy materials and the negative impacts of gambling in their curriculum. Not only that, the mass media also has a responsibility to present educational information regarding the dangers of online gambling.
