Indonesia Committed to Continuously Blocking Online Gambling Content to Clean Up the Digital Space
Jakarta – The government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemenkomdigi), has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing to combat the spread of online gambling content in Indonesia. As of January 21, 2025, more than 5.7 million pieces of online gambling content had been successfully blocked from various digital platforms.
The Director General of Digital Space Supervision at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Alexander Sabar, stated in an online hearing with the Gambling Working Committee of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), that since 2017, his ministry has blocked 5,707,952 pieces of online gambling content.
“Most of the content was found on platform X [formerly Twitter] with 1.4 million hits, followed by Facebook and Instagram, owned by Meta, with 735,000 hits.
Meanwhile, from October 2024 to May 2025, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kemkomdigi) blocked more than 1.3 million pieces of online gambling content.
Although this blockage rate is considered high, Alexander acknowledged that the challenges in eradicating online gambling remain enormous.
“We face constantly changing methods, as well as the ease with which perpetrators can create new sites and disguise them on various digital platforms,” he explained.
One of the main obstacles is the location of online gambling servers, most of which are located overseas. This makes the handling and law enforcement process more complex. To this end, the government continues to strengthen cross-border cooperation and encourage international digital platforms such as Meta, Google, and TikTok to actively participate in cracking down on illegal content.
“Blocking efforts are not enough. “Global involvement and seriousness from all platforms are needed to filter and take firm action against online gambling content,” Alexander emphasized.
Research from Populix also revealed that online slots, dominoes, and poker are the most popular types of online gambling in Indonesia. Judol advertisements are frequently found on social media platforms such as Instagram (48%), YouTube (45%), and Facebook (45%). Their distribution methods are increasingly sophisticated, ranging from sponsored content to hidden links disguised in users’ feeds.
The government recognizes that blocking alone is not enough to suppress the spread of online gambling. Therefore, a comprehensive strategy has been launched, including through digital education for the public. “Digital literacy must be improved, especially among the younger generation, so they are not easily tempted by online gambling content and advertisements,” Alexander added.
Despite the various challenges, the government remains committed to ridding the digital space of illegal gambling practices. Moving forward, strengthening regulations, improving education, and international collaboration will be key to addressing the growing threat of online gambling.
