Government Cheers as Online Betting Activity Drops in Indonesia
The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) has noted a consistent decline in online gambling transactions in the jurisdiction, suggesting that government efforts to curb online gambling are paying off.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The findings, which were based on quarterly evaluations in 2024, drew on data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).
Alexander Sabar, the ministry’s Director General of Digital Space Supervision, made the revelation during a meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Wednesday, January 22, where he stated that online gambling transactions amounted to Rp21 trillion ($1.29 billion) in the first quarter of 2024.
By the second quarter, the value had decreased to Rp16 trillion and further plummeted to Rp4 trillion in the third quarter.
According to Sabar, his office plays a multifaceted role in combating online gambling, including monitoring and blocking access to related websites, content, and applications, conducting research and analysis on emerging trends, and utilizing artificial intelligence to filter out illicit content.
Sabar added that his office also recommends blocking orders for phone numbers and messaging apps linked to online gambling activities.
More Regulation News
Crackdown on Online Gambling Content
Between 2017 and January 21, 2025, the ministry has taken down over 5.7 million online gambling content from various Indonesian websites and applications.
Earlier this month, the ministry announced that it had blocked 43,063 online gambling-related digital content within the first six days of the year.
Additionally, the ministry reported blocking 711,522 online gambling-related items between October 20, 2024, and January 6, 2025, thanks to tips from the public and institutions. The blocked content included 652,147 website/IP addresses, as well as online posts and content from various platforms like Meta, Google, Youtube, X, Telegram, and TikTok.
To uphold its zero-tolerance stance on online gambling, Sabar stated that his office has implemented an integrity pact, which all staff members are required to sign.
His office also conducts regular integrity assessments of its content-blocking teams to ensure they can combat online gambling effectively in line with the government’s objectives.
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