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Government Data Reveals Scope of Illegal Betting Activity
Safriansyah Yanwar Rosyadi, Komdigi’s Director of Digital Space Control, addressed the challenge during a national forum, noting that gambling sites reappear almost as fast as they are taken down.
“We have blocked millions of contents, but new ones continue to emerge just as fast. This is a global challenge that requires collective action.”
Officials say that unlicensed online gambling has become one of the country’s most complex digital issues, blending financial crime, labor exploitation, and social harm.
Underground Betting Economy Reaches Billions
The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) reported that from 2017 to early 2025, gambling-related transactions reached Rp927 trillion (US$56.8 billion). Police have since seized nearly Rp925 billion (US$56.7 million) in assets tied to online gambling networks, according to the National Police Cyber Crime Directorate.
Investigators also uncovered cases of Indonesian workers being recruited by offshore gambling operators under false pretenses, often leading to labor exploitation.
Three-Part Strategy Targets Prevention and Protection
Komdigi said that 70% of online gamblers earn less than Rp5 million (US$307) per month, with many receiving government welfare. As a result, benefits were suspended for 603,000 welfare recipients linked to gambling.
In response, Komdigi launched a three-part strategy focused on domain shutdowns, collaborative cyber patrols, and financial tracking to disrupt betting operations.
The government’s approach aims to address not only the technical aspects of blocking illegal gambling sites but also the underlying social and economic factors driving participation in unlicensed betting markets.
Source: Focus Gaming News
