Online Gambling Destroys Families, Government Takes Firm Action
By: Raditya Rahman )*
The phenomenon of online gambling in Indonesia has become an increasingly worrying social problem. While gambling was once carried out conventionally through cards or physical games, digital technology now offers a new, much more accessible form. With just a device and an internet connection, people can fall into online gambling practices that offer the illusion of winning, but in reality result in significant losses, both economically and socially, and even mentally.
Satria Utama, an expert in Islamic Economics at Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta, assesses the impact of online gambling on families as very serious. He believes that many households that previously had a regular budget for daily needs now have to sacrifice a large portion of their income to participate in this high-risk game. He even cited cases where social assistance funds that should have been used for food, children’s schooling, or healthcare were instead used for gambling. This situation is no longer an individual problem, but has become a threat to family economic resilience.
Furthermore, Satria emphasized that the problem of online gambling becomes even more complex when players seek betting funds through shortcuts, namely borrowing funds from online lending apps. Many online gamblers lose bets and try to cover their losses by going into debt. However, the high interest rates on these loans only further complicate their problems. He described this situation as a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. Families that are initially only financially impacted can eventually be destroyed due to the inability to cope with the pressure of debt and the loss of livelihood.
The problem of online gambling doesn’t stop there. From a mental health perspective, the dangers are no less serious. A psychiatrist at the National Mental Health Center at the Dr. H. Marzoeki Mahdi Mental Hospital in Bogor, Dr. Lahargo Kembaren, SpKJ, explained that gambling addiction, or pathological gambling, is a serious mental disorder comparable to drug addiction. He stated that the neural circuits in the brains of sufferers are disrupted, making it extremely difficult for them to stop even when they realize the losses they are causing. Gambling addiction triggers financial loss, depression, anxiety, and can even lead to suicide attempts.
Lahargo said that many patients come with broken homes, job losses, and the sale of family assets. Moreover, gambling addiction often leads individuals to other negative behaviors such as lying, stealing, and even violence. He stated that gambling not only ravages one’s finances but also damages one’s soul and social relationships. This statement emphasizes that the impact of online gambling goes far beyond mere financial issues.
Another aspect of this problem has been revealed through law enforcement. The West Jakarta Metro Police recently uncovered the workings of an online gambling site owner and administrator who deliberately made it impossible for players to win. West Jakarta Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Twedi Aditya Bennyahdi, explained that players who transferred money to the site’s account would receive an account to play. However, the site’s system was rigged so that the odds of winning were never in the player’s favor. This fraudulent practice proves that online gambling is not only risky but also designed to harm society.
Furthermore, Twedi explained that two perpetrators, Nicola and Ripal, managed to rake in approximately IDR 100 million in profits in just three months. Each day, they collected approximately IDR 1.5 million from new player registrations. Their modus operandi was to randomly distribute text messages to promote their site. Some of the sites they operate include Harta77, Mwin, Jiwa4D, Gudang Toto, Mega88, and Ares77. This practice clearly demonstrates how the perpetrators actively lure new victims with the promise of false winnings.
Looking at this overall picture, it’s clear that online gambling has a far-reaching domino effect. From families losing income, communities burdened with online loan debt, individuals trapped in mental disorders, to fraudulent practices that mercilessly rob players of their money. All of this leads to one conclusion: online gambling offers no benefits other than loss and suffering.
The Indonesian public must immediately realize that avoiding online gambling is not simply an option, but an urgent need to safeguard the future of their families and the nation. Every rupiah lost through gambling threatens children’s education, family health, and household economic stability. Anyone caught up in the cycle of online gambling has the potential to lose more than just money—they can lose relationships, dignity, and even their lives.
