Transactions Down 80 Percent, Government Increasingly Steadfast in Closing Online Gambling Loopholes
Jakarta – The government has shown a strong commitment to eradicating online gambling practices through firm and measurable strategic steps. The Online Gambling Eradication Task Force (Daring) recorded significant achievements, financial transactions related to digital gambling activities fell drastically by more than 80 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. If in January to March 2024 the value of online gambling transactions was recorded at IDR 90 trillion, then in the same period this year the amount dropped sharply to around IDR 47 trillion.
This significant decline reflects the effectiveness of the cross-sectoral approach implemented by the government, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s direction emphasizing the importance of maintaining social and economic stability from the threat of online gambling.
Head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), Ivan Yustiavandana, said that this downward trend is a positive signal in the long-term effort to eradicate online gambling.
“If this trend continues, then the total transactions throughout 2025 can be reduced to below 160 million transactions,” explained Ivan.
He also expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) for the central role taken in this effort.
“The blocking of more than 1.3 million contents carried out by Kemkomdigi is proof of an extraordinary commitment in cutting off access to such a massive illegal network,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi), Meutya Hafid emphasized that this success was the result of collective work involving various parties.
“The government still has a lot of homework. Enforcement and blocking of content must be followed by systematic and sustainable regulatory improvements,” he said.
Meutya also expressed appreciation to various elements of society, ranging from government institutions, organizations, schools, to campuses that have contributed to this struggle.
“Eradicating online gambling is not only the government’s job, but a shared struggle. Synergy from all members of the task force, starting from PPATK, Polri, Kemkomdigi, OJK, to Bank Indonesia, is the key to success,” Meutya emphasized.
Some concrete steps that have been taken include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to track suspicious transactions, limiting SIM card ownership to a maximum of three numbers per NIK, and law enforcement operations by the Polri which succeeded in confiscating assets of more than IDR 500 billion from online gambling networks. In addition, the implementation of Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning Child Protection in the Digital Space is an important foundation in strengthening national digital space governance.
