The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Kemenko Polkam) has revealed that approximately 70% of Indonesians engaged in online gambling belong to low-income households earning less than 5 million rupiah ($300) monthly. The report highlights a growing socioeconomic divide, where financial desperation and easy access to gambling platforms intersect dangerously.
Authorities have intensified financial surveillance measures, with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) monitoring transactions to identify welfare recipients involved in gambling. Once detected, these individuals face suspension of their government benefits. While the move aims to curb illegal betting, critics argue it risks punishing entire families, including vulnerable dependents reliant on aid.
Government ministries, including the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), have blocked millions of gambling-related domains and frozen tens of thousands of accounts linked to online betting operations. Officials describe the crisis as a “multidimensional threat” impacting family finances, productivity, and social cohesion.
Between 2017 and 2025, authorities have traced gambling-linked transactions worth Rp 927 trillion ($55.9 billion), much of it flowing overseas. To address this growing challenge, the government is turning to AI-driven detection systems, inter-agency collaboration, and stricter banking oversight.
Industry experts have warned that beyond the economic costs, the human toll is steep with low-income families bearing the brunt of addiction and enforcement. The latest data underscores the urgent need for balanced policy intervention, combining regulation, technology, and social protection to curb the spread of illegal online gambling in Indonesia.
