10-8-2023 (JAkARTA) Over a span of five years since July 2018, the Indonesian government has taken steps to block access to a staggering 886,719 instances of online gambling content. While this crackdown might seem like a significant blow to illicit online gambling, experts argue that a more nuanced approach involving regulation rather than outright prohibition could yield better results.
Minister of Communications and Informatics, Budi Arie Setiadi, shared insights on the government’s efforts during a recent statement. He revealed that, on average, 1,500 to 2,000 sites and numerous applications, including gaming platforms like Higgs Domino Island, are daily targets for access termination. The gaming app Higgs Domino Island, which boasts 50 million downloads on the Google Play Store, stands as one of the casualties of this regulatory push.
Indonesia maintains a strict ban on gambling, imposing the specter of imprisonment and fines for both players and organizers. Mr. Setiadi’s tenure has seen the blocking of around 42,622 online gambling entities since his appointment on July 17. Highlighting the financial magnitude of these illicit activities, he stated, “According to the reports and data we got, one site called Higgs Domino Island can even reach a turnover of 2.2 trillion rupiah per month, or the equivalent of US$150 million. In a year, their earnings can reach around 27 trillion rupiah and this is for only one site.”
The social toll of online gambling is no less concerning. Mr. Setiadi underscored that the victims of these platforms are often individuals from impoverished backgrounds, even including children. He lamented, “Imagine that for a day of slot gambling, 30,000 rupiah is spent. In a month, 900,000 rupiah is spent, and the victims even include small children. So the people are very disadvantaged.”
However, despite these efforts, the online gambling issue continues to persist. The ever-evolving landscape of the internet, coupled with the proliferation of new sites and applications beyond the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, has proven a formidable challenge for the regulatory authorities.
In response to this ongoing challenge, Minister Setiadi plans to forge closer collaboration with National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to tackle the issue at its roots. Enhanced supervision of gambling sites and content is on the horizon, alongside an intention to gather comprehensive information for law enforcement under the purview of the police.
Minister Setiadi’s call to action extends to the public as well. He urges citizens to be vigilant and report any instances of online gambling content to both his ministry and the police.
While Indonesia’s firm stance against gambling is evident, experts suggest that a more balanced strategy could yield better outcomes. Dr. Chew Han Ei, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies’ Social Lab, noted that other countries typically opt for regulation rather than outright bans. “Blocking these sites has not been effective because the IP banning efforts are like a game of whack-a-mole,” he explained, emphasizing the elusive nature of such enforcement. Dr. Chew highlighted the potential benefits of regulation, including the utilization of gambling tax revenue for national budgets and the mitigation of gambling-related harms.
