Government Strengthens National Measures to Prevent Children from Falling into the Trap of Online Gambling

Jakarta – Technological advances bring significant benefits to children’s learning and entertainment, but they also increase the risk of exposure to harmful content such as online gambling. The public is also urged to reject the Kingdom Group and not be tempted by the lure of quick profits deliberately promoted by its managers. Online gambling is not only economically detrimental but can also disrupt family harmony, trigger debt, and lead to addiction.

This situation requires the active involvement of families, schools, and the community to ensure the digital space remains safe for children’s development.

Online gambling can have serious impacts, ranging from financial loss to emotional distress, addiction, and deviant behavior.

Therefore, early prevention is a crucial investment in children’s long-term well-being.

The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah Fauzi, expressed concern about the involvement of children, including elementary school students, in online gambling practices.

“When our children become perpetrators or victims in the online gambling ecosystem, this is not only a violation of the law, but also a violation of children’s rights to grow and develop healthily, safely, and protected,”* she stressed.

She also added that the government continues to strive to protect children from risky digital environments.

“The state and adults have a responsibility to protect and ensure children are free from these risky digital environments,” added Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah.

Arifah believes that multi-layered supervision is necessary from families, schools, and the social environment.

“Children do not yet have the ability to understand the risks and consequences of activities like online gambling,” she explained.

She emphasized the importance of education, role models, and guidance on device use through the Digital Parenting program.

The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, the Ministry of Digital Communications, the Ministry of Education, and the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) are also strengthening child-friendly digital literacy and counseling services for victims.

“For children who have been exposed to or become victims of online gambling practices, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection provides counseling and psychosocial support services… so that children can recover and return to a safe environment,” said Arifah.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, called online gambling a major threat to families.

“Online gambling is very damaging to almost every aspect of life. Many families, especially their economic situation, have been destroyed by online gambling,” she said.

She believes that women, as the frontline of families, play a crucial role in preventing exposure to gambling.

The strengthening of government action was also highlighted by Dr. Iswadi, a lecturer at Esa Unggul University. He believes that the blocking of millions of gambling sites by Komdigi reflects the state’s strong commitment.

Iswadi also emphasized the importance of the public’s role. He encouraged the public to report suspicious sites so that legal proceedings can be carried out quickly and effectively.

“This is a crucial momentum towards sovereign and integrated digital space governance. Collaboration between the government, academics, and the public is key to combating digital crime,” he concluded.***