Online Gambling Triggers Economic Destruction and Mental Health Problems
By: Agung Pribadi
Online gambling has become a serious threat to society, not only from an economic perspective, but also from a social, moral, and mental health perspective. Rapid technological developments have made it easier to access digital gambling platforms, so that many individuals, including the younger generation, are trapped in this practice. The government continues to strive to eradicate online gambling in order to protect the people from the negative impacts it causes.
One of the main causes of the rise in online gambling is the ease of access through digital devices and increasingly varied payment methods. This allows anyone to engage in gambling activities without significant obstacles. An academic from Gadjah Mada University, I Wayan Nuka Lantara, revealed that online gambling provides the illusion of big profits with small capital, thus attracting many people to try their luck. Unfortunately, most players actually experience defeat which encourages them to continue to deposit larger amounts of money in the hope of being able to cover previous losses.
From an economic perspective, the impact of online gambling is very detrimental. Many individuals use personal funds or even family funds to gamble, which ultimately causes financial imbalance in the household. In fact, in some cases, people who are caught up in online gambling are willing to sacrifice basic needs such as food, education, and health in order to pursue uncertain winnings. This situation creates a new cycle of poverty that has an impact on the purchasing power of society as a whole.
In addition, the state also experiences significant losses due to the circulation of money that occurs in the online gambling sector. Money that should be used for productive economic activities is instead sucked into the gambling system, most of which is controlled by bookies abroad. This creates an economic leak that is detrimental to the state’s finances. According to economic analysis, the losses experienced by the state due to online gambling reach hundreds of trillions of rupiah, a figure that should have been allocated for infrastructure development, education, and public welfare.
The social impact of online gambling is also very worrying. Many families are destroyed by one of their members’ gambling addiction. Domestic disputes increase, and in some cases, violence occurs due to financial pressure caused by gambling habits. Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council, Nyai Badriyah Fayumi, emphasized that online gambling not only violates religious teachings, but also causes great damage to the social life of society.
In addition, there are psychological impacts that cannot be ignored. Psychologist Mirta Yolanda explained that online gambling addiction can cause mental health disorders such as severe stress, anxiety, and depression. Many gamblers experience emotional stress due to continuous defeats, which can ultimately lead to extreme actions such as suicide. There are many cases where individuals who are in debt due to online gambling feel desperate and choose to end their lives as a way out.
On a wider scale, online gambling also contributes to the increase in crime rates. Many individuals who lose everything due to gambling then choose shortcuts such as stealing, cheating, or committing other crimes in order to get money to continue gambling. If this situation is left without serious handling, the social stability of society could be disrupted.
Seeing the negative impacts caused, the government continues to strive to tighten supervision and action against online gambling practices. The Indonesian National Police have collaborated with various parties, including Interpol and the police of neighboring countries, to eradicate international networks operating in Indonesia. Firm steps have also been taken through asset tracing to confiscate assets obtained from these illegal activities.
In addition to legal efforts, education and prevention are also important factors in overcoming the problem of online gambling. The government is encouraged to intensify socialization about the dangers of digital gambling, especially among the younger generation. Academics such as I Wayan Nuka Lantara suggest that universities and schools play a role in providing understanding to students about the financial and psychological risks posed by online gambling.
