TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) Meutya Hafid said nearly 200,000 children in Indonesia have been exposed to online gambling, including around 80,000 children under the age of 10, describing the situation as a serious warning for the country’s younger generation.
“Online gambling is a scam designed to ensure that players almost always lose money in the long run,” Meutya said during the Indonesia GOID Menyapa Gass Pol Tolak Judol campaign event in Medan on Wednesday.
She urged the public to play a more active role in educating communities and protecting families and children from the growing spread of illegal online gambling practices.
According to Meutya, efforts to combat online gambling cannot rely solely on blocking websites and law enforcement actions, but must also include stronger digital literacy and public awareness campaigns.
“We are not only shutting down access or taking down websites. The most important thing is reaching the wider public with these facts so awareness can grow within families and communities,” she said.
Meutya also expressed concern over the impact of online gambling on women and children. She said many families have suffered financial instability and even domestic violence after family members became addicted to online gambling.
“We hear many heartbreaking stories from the public. This is not only about money, but also about the destruction of children’s futures and family stability. We must stop this together,” she said.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, she added, continues to block online gambling sites and related content. However, she stressed that the effort requires stronger cooperation across multiple sectors.
“We will continue fighting access to these platforms. But if the perpetrators are not firmly prosecuted, new sites will continue to appear,” Meutya said. “That is why we need full support from the National Police, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the Financial Services Authority (OJK), banks, and digital platforms.”
She also highlighted the growing number of online gambling advertisements on social media, which she said are increasingly targeting Indonesian users. The ministry has asked platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to take more aggressive action against gambling-related content.
“Online gambling is illegal in Indonesia. All parties must share the same moral and legal responsibility,” she said.
Meutya also called on religious leaders, community figures, local organizations, and families to become the frontline in preventing the spread of online gambling.
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