Appreciating the Government’s Success in Reducing Online Gambling Transactions
By: Nina Herlina
The significant decline in online gambling transactions in Indonesia is encouraging news as well as real evidence that the government is not sitting idly by in facing the challenges of the digital era. In the first quarter of 2025, the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemenkomdigi) recorded that online gambling transactions had decreased drastically from IDR 90 trillion in the same period the previous year to IDR 47 trillion. This decline of more than half marks the strategic achievement of the steps taken by the government in protecting the national digital space from illegal practices that damage the social and economic foundations of society.
This success deserves to be appreciated as a reflection of the cross-sector collaboration that continues to be consolidated. One of the key figures who highlighted this was the Director General of Digital Space Supervision of Kemenkomdigi, Alexander Sabar, who said that there had been a decline of more than 80 percent in transaction volume compared to last year. This fact is not just a statistical figure, but shows that the supervision and policies implemented are able to limit the circulation of illegal money in the digital sector.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital has implemented various comprehensive strategies, including strengthening digital infrastructure, implementing an artificial intelligence-based automatic content detection system, and increasing cooperation with institutions such as PPATK. These steps reflect a holistic approach that does not only rely on blocking content, but also examines the digital footprint and financial transactions of online gambling actors, allowing for more precise and sustainable action.
It is also important to note that the approach used by the government does not stop at the technical aspect alone. There are systematic efforts to build digital governance that is more adaptive to evolving threats. This is reflected in the statement of the Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, who emphasized that in addition to action and blocking, regulatory reform is the main focus going forward. With more systematic regulations, handling online gambling practices will not be reactive, but proactive and anticipatory.
This success cannot be separated from the contribution of the wider community. Public awareness of the dangers of online gambling is slowly growing, along with digital literacy campaigns and the active involvement of digital communities in reporting suspicious content. This awareness is an important pillar in strengthening social defenses against the exploitation of digital space by cybercriminals.
However, this success is not the end of the struggle. The decrease in transactions of up to IDR 47 trillion still reflects the scale of the problem that still needs to be addressed. Moreover, various reports show that online gambling practices have targeted vulnerable groups, including students and even state officials. This indicates that future challenges will be increasingly complex because they touch on moral, social, and institutional realms simultaneously.
Therefore, long-term strategies must continue to be prioritized. The government needs to continue to build a strong and dynamic digital monitoring system. Early digital education also needs to be integrated into the national education curriculum in order to form a generation that is critical and resistant to the temptations of online gambling. In addition, law enforcement must be strengthened by ensuring that perpetrators, including those behind illegal payment platforms and networks, receive strict and transparent sanctions.
Cross-agency coordination that has been running well so far must continue to be maintained and improved. PPATK, for example, has a strategic role in tracing the flow of money and identifying accounts used for suspicious transactions. Synergy with the police, prosecutors, and national banks and digital payment service providers is also key so that action can be taken comprehensively from upstream to downstream.
Furthermore, Indonesia must also strengthen international cooperation in combating cross-border digital crimes, including online gambling. Many gambling sites and applications operate from abroad, so handling them requires cooperation with other countries, both in terms of cyber intelligence, data exchange, and cross-jurisdictional law enforcement. Digital diplomacy must begin to become part of the national security strategy to ensure that Indonesia’s digital space sovereignty is maintained.
