Government Implements Severe Sanctions for Online Gambling Players and Providers
By: Alfitra Wijaya
The government is increasingly assertive in combating online gambling by preparing severe sanctions for perpetrators, both players and service providers. This step was taken as a form of response to the broad impact caused by online gambling, especially among the lower classes. President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the police to take maximum action in eradicating this illegal practice.
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo emphasized that online gambling has infiltrated various levels of society, even affecting minors. This is a serious threat to the future of the younger generation, considering its impact on the economic stability of families and the potential to increase crime rates. Therefore, the police have been ordered to eradicate online gambling from the root of the problem, from small networks to large bookies who operate behind the scenes.
To strengthen eradication, the National Police will apply the Money Laundering Crime Law (TPPU) to online gambling bookies. With this mechanism, assets obtained from illegal activities can be confiscated and returned to the state. This step is expected to not only close financial access for perpetrators, but also provide a greater deterrent effect. In addition, the police are also ordered to take firm action against members who are proven to be involved in online gambling networks.
Trisakti University criminal law expert, Abdul Fickar Hadjar, assessed that this policy is the right step to suppress the circulation of online gambling in Indonesia. According to him, all parties involved, both players and bookies, must be given appropriate punishment because gambling activities are against applicable laws. He emphasized that the revolution in the field of communication technology has made it easier to access online gambling, so firm action must be taken immediately before the impact becomes more widespread.
The negative impact of online gambling is already evident in society. There are many cases where individuals lose control due to gambling addiction, leading to criminal acts. One example that has been in the spotlight is the case of a father who had the heart to sell his own child to pay off debts due to online gambling. A phenomenon like this shows how gambling practices can eliminate a person’s common sense and damage social order.
On the other hand, the Executive Director of the ICT Institute, Heru Sutadi, assessed that the government’s efforts in dealing with the circulation of negative content in the digital world must be strengthened. He emphasized that regulations to protect the public from dangerous content such as online gambling have been regulated in the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE). However, implementation in the field is still a big challenge due to weak law enforcement.
One of the concrete steps being designed by the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) is age restrictions on the use of social media. With this policy, it is hoped that children will no longer be exposed to online gambling content that is widely spread on various digital platforms.
The government is also drafting regulations regarding sanctions that will be imposed on digital platforms that are proven to allow online gambling content to circulate on their services. These sanctions can be in the form of written warnings, fines, temporary suspensions, or even permanent termination of access.
However, Heru highlighted that this kind of policy must be supported by stricter law enforcement. So far, even though there has been a strict ban on online gambling, its practice is still widespread in society. This shows that the state still has homework to do in ensuring that the regulations that have been made are actually implemented.
In addition to legal action, the government is also pursuing a prevention strategy by increasing digital literacy among the public. Education about the dangers of online gambling is one of the important steps in protecting the public from the temptation of online gambling. This campaign targets various groups, including students, workers, and housewives who are vulnerable to becoming victims of gambling.
In terms of technology, the government is working with internet service providers to strengthen the online gambling site blocking system. This step is taken to make access to illegal platforms increasingly difficult, especially for people who are still unfamiliar with recognizing the modus operandi of online gambling perpetrators.
The success of eradicating online gambling does not only depend on police or government actions, but also on the collective awareness of the community. Support from families, communities, and the private sector also plays an important role in creating an environment free from the negative influences of gambling.
