Collaboration of Community Elements is the Key to Success in Eradicating Online Gambling
By: Jefry Gideon
The increasing prevalence of online gambling in Indonesia has become a serious concern for various elements of society. From academics, students, to youth organizations, all have spoken out loudly to reject this destructive practice. Collective awareness to eradicate online gambling continues to grow as a form of concern for the future of the nation.
The Sumatra Institute of Technology (Itera) is one of the educational institutions that has taken real steps in fighting online gambling. Through the Anti-Online Gambling Declaration, hundreds of students, lecturers, and education staff voiced their commitment to creating a healthy academic environment free from the negative influence of online gambling. The Chancellor of Itera, Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Pugeg Aryantha, emphasized that campuses play an important role in shaping a young generation that thinks critically, works hard, and is not tempted by shortcuts to instant wealth.
In addition, the President of the KM-Itera Student Association, Muhammad Rizky Saputra, highlighted the detrimental impact of online gambling on students. In addition to the risk of spending pocket money, this habit can also drag students into the circle of online loans.
The financial burden faced is not only felt by individuals, but also their families. Therefore, awareness to stay away from this gambling practice must be instilled early on so that students can focus on education and self-development without being disturbed by high-risk activities.
Not only in academic environments, youth organizations are also actively voicing their rejection of online gambling. The Indonesian Mosque Council Youth Association (PRIMA DMI) has stated its firm stance in combating increasingly worrying digital gambling.
The General Chairperson of PRIMA DMI, Munawar Khalil, emphasized that this problem is not only about the law, but also related to morality and social order which are threatened by its negative impacts.
In its statement, PRIMA DMI emphasized the need for collective action to eradicate online gambling which is increasingly growing due to easy internet access and minimal digital literacy among the community. This organization also called on all elements of the nation to unite in the movement against online gambling with a more comprehensive approach.
The Secretary General of PRIMA DMI, Affandi Ismail Hasan, highlighted the need for strategic steps in dealing with this problem. Some of the concrete proposals submitted include the establishment of a special online gambling Task Force, transparent blocking of sites, and increased education through cooperation with the police and educational institutions. PRIMA DMI also emphasizes the importance of a community-based approach to provide a deeper understanding to the public about the dangers of online gambling.
In addition to a preventive approach, PRIMA DMI is also committed to helping victims who have fallen into this practice. One of the proposed initiatives is the establishment of the Judol Crisis Center which will provide psychological and spiritual counseling services for those affected. This step is expected to help individuals who want to escape the trap of online gambling but face difficulties in breaking the habit.
In addition, PRIMA DMI is also collaborating with the Financial Services Authority (OJK) to provide financial education to the public, especially for families who are negatively impacted by online gambling. With a better understanding of financial management, it is hoped that the public can be wiser in avoiding the financial risks that arise from gambling.
The Islamic digital literacy campaign is also one of PRIMA DMI’s main strategies in eradicating online gambling. The Director of Digital Literacy for Teenagers of the PRIMA DMI Mosque, Indra Syahfirman, said that his party would initiate a national petition to encourage the government to take firmer action in eradicating digital gambling sites. The #BerantasJudol campaign is a movement carried by PRIMA DMI as a preventive measure in saving the younger generation from the threat of online gambling.
PRIMA DMI’s seriousness in handling this problem can also be seen from the plan to form a Digital Ambassador who will campaign for Islamic digital literacy and spread positive narratives to counter the increasingly massive promotion of online gambling on various platforms. This organization also supports the government in strengthening regulations and policies that are more effective in efforts to eradicate online gambling in Indonesia.
