Decline of Online Gambling Transactions in Indonesia Continues
In a recent report by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, the ongoing battle against online gambling in Indonesia shows promising results. Quarterly evaluations conducted in 2024 reveal a significant decrease in online gambling transactions, indicating the effectiveness of government measures.
Government Efforts Pay Off
During a meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR), Alexander Sabar, the ministry’s Director General of Digital Space Supervision, disclosed crucial data. Online gambling transactions in the first quarter of 2024 amounted to Rp21 trillion, equivalent to around US$1.29 billion. However, this figure plummeted to Rp16 trillion in the second quarter and further decreased to Rp4 trillion in the third quarter.
Sabar emphasized the pivotal role of his office in monitoring and obstructing access to websites, content, and applications associated with online gambling. Their tasks include researching new online gambling trends, compiling relevant keywords, and utilizing AI to filter out such content. Additionally, proposals to block phone numbers and messaging apps suspected of facilitating online gambling communications were put forward.
Commitment to Eradication
Since 2017, the ministry has tackled a staggering 5,707,952 instances of online gambling content across various digital platforms in Indonesia. To uphold their dedication to eradicating online gambling, Sabar mandated his team to sign an integrity pact. Furthermore, integrity assessments are regularly conducted to ensure the effectiveness of content-blocking teams in alignment with the government’s vision.
As the fight against online gambling continues, it is evident that the government’s stringent measures are yielding positive outcomes. By addressing the root causes and implementing proactive strategies, Indonesia is making significant progress in curbing the detrimental effects of online gambling on society and individuals.
