Recent reports of online gambling cases have sparked growing public concern. According to data from the Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes as of Sept. 12, 2025, victims of online gambling in Indonesia come from various social groups, including children, laborers, farmers, and even the homeless. This phenomenon poses a serious social issue as it threatens long-term economic stability and public welfare.
Responding to the issue, Dr. Andreas Budi Widyanta, a sociologist at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), stated that the data presented reflects only a fraction of the broader challenges society faces in today’s digital era.
He emphasized that vulnerable groups, such as laborers, farmers, children, and impoverished families, are increasingly trapped in exploitative digital systems embedded in online gambling.
“The data we see is just the tip of the iceberg. Behind it are countless families losing their homes, land, and belongings to pay off debts caused by online gambling,” he said on Wednesday (Oct. 29).
Dr. Widyanta, a lecturer at the Department of Sociology, UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), known to his students as Abe, explained that online gambling systems operate using intentionally designed gamification algorithms to create a fleeting sense of victory.
This pattern generates a false sense of euphoria that compels users to continue playing, unaware that their actions are being controlled by digital systems. He observed that society now lives under subtle surveillance mechanisms that regulate consumer behavior through digital features.
“We sleep with the enemy. We are constantly watched, controlled, and stimulated by endless digital desires for consumption,” he remarked.
Online gambling not only harms individual players but also severely affects family members, particularly homemakers. Dr. Abe explained that many cases show homemakers becoming secondary victims, often bearing the financial burden of family members trapped in gambling. This creates new social vulnerabilities that widen the circle of victims in society.
“Many end up paying family debts and losing their savings to cover losses caused by their husbands or children. They do not gamble themselves, but they suffer the consequences of this digital exploitation,” he said.
Furthermore, Dr. Abe highlighted that low digital competence makes it easier for people to fall into online gambling practices. This situation is further compounded by economic pressures and structural poverty, which drive vulnerable individuals to seek immediate financial gains.
He noted that this issue is part of a broader wave of digital exploitation targeting economically vulnerable populations.
Regarding the government’s role, Dr. Abe assessed that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has yet to demonstrate sufficient capacity to raise public awareness and competence in digital literacy. He argued that current government programs remain ineffective in addressing the core of the problem.
“Digital literacy alone is not enough. We need digital competence accompanied by critical social awareness. As long as the ministry fails to provide strong protection and legal enforcement, society will continue to fall victim to digital exploitation. The state must not remain silent,” he stressed.
As a strategic step forward, Dr. Abe underscored the need for active state involvement in law enforcement, halting exploitative digital operations, and fostering critical awareness within digital spaces.
He also called for cross-sector collaboration, especially involving young generations and creative agencies, to campaign against the dangers of online gambling.
“Indonesia has many talented young people and creative agencies. They should be engaged in sustained digital education and awareness campaigns,” he concluded.
Author: Cyntia
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Illustration: Antara