Indonesia Issues Warning to Nearly 200,000 Kids Exposed to Online Gambling

Indonesia’s government said that nearly 200,000 children in the country have been exposed to online gambling, as authorities step up efforts to curb illegal betting activity and its wider social impact. The warning came as officials continued to push for stronger public awareness around the risks linked to gambling content and advertising.

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According to the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Meutya Hafid, during an anti-online gambling event held in Medan, Indonesia, around 80,000 of the affected are kids below ten years old. She said this was a dangerous trend for future generations in the country because the online gambling system is set to ensure players incur losses eventually.

Children At Risk

Hafid indicated that the number of children exposed to online gambling sites was a clear indication of how rampant gambling had become among adults. He cited the huge numbers involved to highlight that this particular vice was not only a law enforcement issue, but rather an entire social phenomenon.

The country bans all types of gambling, which is considered illegal under the country’s criminal laws, and authorities have tightened crackdowns in recent years on offshore operators and their advertisement campaigns aimed at the local population. Hafid indicated that website blocking and raids alone would not suffice.

She said that digital literacy and public awareness campaigns must be launched to make people realize the dangers. In her speech, she emphasized the need for the government to communicate with the people and have their awareness developed by themselves rather than depending solely on the measures of taking down websites.

Wider Social Harm

She further emphasized the impact of online gambling activities on women and children. As reported, some families have undergone total financial collapse and instances of domestic abuse associated with gambling addictions among their household members.

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This social harm, according to Hafid, is what makes the government treat gambling activities as a wider public concern. Hafid stated that despite the ministry’s continued blocking of online gambling websites and advertisements, cooperation among government institutions, police forces, and internet platforms must be strengthened further.

This indicates that authorities consider online gambling a threat that can even infiltrate people’s households and communities. Hafid, in particular, stressed the significance of addressing online gambling by means of prevention and education at once.

Platform Responsibility

Hafid also stated that the advertising of gambling online on social media sites has gotten increasingly brazen when trying to appeal to Indonesians. The ministry called for action from the big digital companies such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to eliminate gambling ads.

Online gambling is illegal in Indonesia, and everyone involved should assume equal moral and legal responsibility. The message was aimed not only at government agencies, but also at the platforms that help shape what users see online.

The minister also asked for the support of religious leaders, social communities, and family members to act as the first defense line against the promotion of online gambling.

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Source: Asia Gaming Brief