Indonesia’s (Komdigi) has intensified its crackdown on online gambling, blocking 43,063 pieces of related digital content between January 1 and 6, 2025. These blocked items included websites and social media accounts, according to Molly Prabawaty, Komdigi’s Acting Director General of Public Communication and Media.

Issuing an official statement, Prabawaty said, “President Prabowo Subianto and Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid have emphasised the urgency to protect our youngsters from online gambling, online loans, and other negative items of content in the digital space.”

As part of its broader enforcement efforts between October 2024 and January 2025, the ministry blocked 711,522 items across various platforms based on public and institutional reports. This included 652,147 items on websites and IP addresses, 29,964 on Meta platforms, 17,836 on file-sharing platforms, 6,842 on Google and YouTube, 4,075 on X, 435 on Telegram and 219 on TikTok.

Since 2017, the Indonesian government has removed around 5.5 million online gambling-related digital advertisements. Prabawaty highlighted that the ministry has focused on blocking Instagram accounts that leverage large follower bases to promote gambling sites.

“We have zero tolerance toward those leveraging their popularity to promote illegal practices like online gambling, which has emerged as a dire threat to society, particularly our youngsters,” she said last month.

Stressing on the need for community involvement in combating online gambling, the official urged parents to monitor their children’s digital activities. She also warned against exposure to video games linked to gambling. She added, “Let us accord priority to the monitoring of the digital space to ensure that our children grow up healthily and are protected from the threats of online gambling.”

Economic hit

As per a , in 2024, economists stated that the growing popularity of gambling in Indonesia, particularly among lower-income groups, negatively impacts long-term productivity and perpetuates poverty. Officials have also linked gambling addiction to an increase in crime in certain areas, a higher divorce rate, and a rise in Indonesians taking out high-interest loans.

Digital literacy: New weapon against online gambling

Earlier last week, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, , has pledged to enhance digital literacy among the public to support the government’s efforts to root out illegal online gambling. Hafid said, “We are stepping up our efforts to boost digital literacy because eradicating online gambling is not enough with just a technological approach.”

Through the bolstering of digital literacy, the public will be in a better position to understand the negative impacts and losses that come with online gambling, such as getting caught up in legal troubles, she added.

She further pointed out that online gambling activities violate Article 27, paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2024 amending Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE).

“The rules strictly forbid it (online gambling) and there are even sanctions. So far, many people have voluntarily helped us by carrying out activities in their own community to fight online gambling.”

The ministry is prepared to strengthen collaborative efforts with all local governments at district, city, and provincial levels, as well as with communities, to enhance digital literacy.

“We are also collaborating with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) volunteers. So far, there have been eight thousand registered volunteers,” said Minister Hafid.

“The ministry is also collaborating with non-governmental organizations (NGOs),” she added.

In addition to addressing online gambling, these collaborations will be aimed at creating a child-friendly internet. “We definitely need to work with NGOs that focus on children to realize internet-friendly children, because it’s impossible for the government to do it alone,” Hafid said.

To support public reporting, the government has set up channels including the website , WhatsApp at 0811-9224-545, and the anti-gambling chatbot 0811-1001-5080.

Be Part of the Action! Join the world’s biggest iGaming community with SiGMA’s Top 10 News countdown. Subscribe for weekly updates, insider insights, and exclusive subscriber-only offers.