Until now, attention to online gambling in Indonesia has been up and down. Around the end of 2024, the trend towards online gambling news had increased. Nonetheless, entering mid-2025, online gambling news is not as high as it was at the end of 2024. Despite the ups and downs of the news, online gambling remains an alarming threat, socially and economically harmful, and still needs to be eradicated.
At the beginning of 2025, the news about online gambling is about a significant decrease in the value and number of online gambling transactions. Based on data revealed by the Ministry of Communication and Digital (KOMDIGI), the turnover of funds from online gambling activities from January to March 2025 reached IDR 47 trillion. This figure decreased drastically from the same period the previous year, which reached IDR 90 trillion (KOMDIGI, 2025).
The number of transactions during the period from January to March 2025 was recorded at 39,818,000 transactions (PPATK, 2025). The decline highlights the opportunity for the government to succeed in its intervention. Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, the government launched programs and policies that were implemented extensively through the Online Gambling Eradication Task Force (Satuan Tugas Pemberantasan Judi Daring).
Based on data from the Financial Transaction Reporting and Analysis Center (PPATK), there has been a significant decrease in the number of online gambling deposits. In the first quarter of 2025, online gambling deposits totaled IDR 6.2 trillion, significantly lower than the same period last year, which reached IDR 15 trillion. The total number of online gambling players in January-March 2025 was recorded at 1,066,000, with 71% of them having an income of IDR 5 million or less (PPATK, 2025).
Why Is Online Gambling Worrisome?
Online gambling is very tempting but also very dangerous. Online gambling promotions promise significant profits in a short time, offer easy access via mobile phone or internet, can be done anytime, anywhere, and by anyone in a straightforward manner. The temptation to gamble online is not only aimed at adults, but also at children.
Online gambling promotion is conveyed through peer influence and word of mouth. The influence of friends, social pressure, and the desire to be accepted into society further encourages individuals to try online gambling. At first, it was just tempting to try, then I ended up trapped in the gambling circle, so it was hard to stop.
The financial losses due to online gambling are huge. Throughout 2023, the country's economic losses due to this practice reached hundreds of billions of rupiah, totaling IDR 327 trillion, which then increased in 2024 to IDR 900 trillion (PPATK, 2024). In addition to financial problems, online gambling also has an impact on mental health and can even trigger suicidal thoughts or behavior (Moreira et al., 2023). In addition to damaging the financial and mental condition of the perpetrator, the fatal impact is also felt by the immediate family, who have to deal with emotional pressure, relationship conflicts, and economic burdens due to these addictive behaviors.
Who are the Victims of Online Gambling?
Based on data from PPATK in 2024, around four million Indonesians will play online gambling. This number jumped to 8.8 million people by November 2024, with the majority of perpetrators coming from the lower classes and young people. Online gamblers can come from various ages. Data shows that around 2% of online gambling perpetrators are even under the age of 10 (PPATK, 2025). Among online gamblers, the most vulnerable group is young adults, particularly those aged 18--29. These ages are known to be more likely to engage in risky behaviors due to impulsive impulses and social environmental pressures.
