Indonesia to introduce stricter regulations on online gambling soon

February 18, 2025

Indonesia to introduce stricter regulations on online gambling soon

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has announced that the government will introduce stricter regulations to tackle online gambling. The move aims to strengthen existing measures and the administration’s commitment to intensifying efforts against illegal gambling activities.

Head of the Presidential Communications Office, Hasan Nasbi, stated that President Prabowo is not only focused on blocking access to gambling sites but also on tracing payment gateways and money flows linked to online gambling. He also stressed the importance of international cooperation, saying, “So, it is not just carried out by Indonesia alone, but it needs cooperation with various countries.”

Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid also confirmed that the government will soon issue the new regulations. “The President emphasised that handling online gambling must be stricter. One of the strategic steps that will be taken soon is the issuance of regulations in the form of Government Regulations (PP) that regulate more firmly and comprehensively,” she said following a meeting with President Prabowo.

So far, the government has blocked nearly one million online gambling sites; however, Hafid has underlined that simply blocking is not enough and that further action is necessary.

“Taking it down alone will not solve the problem of online gambling and other dangerous content. Therefore, the government has strengthened Law Number 1 of 2024 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions by compiling child protection governance in the implementation of electronic systems, which is now entering the final stage. We have reported to the President, and God willing, it will be officially announced in the near future.”

Therefore, the government is set to work closely with the police and prosecutor’s offices to eradicate online gambling. Additionally, social media platforms have been urged to remove gambling-related content to protect children online.

Hafid reiterated, “The President emphasised that handling online gambling must be stricter. One of the strategic steps that will be taken soon is the issuance of regulations in the form of Government Regulations (PP) that regulate more firmly and comprehensively.”

As per the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, there has been a continued decline in online gambling transactions based on quarterly evaluations in 2024. The ministry’s data shows transactions fell from Rp21 trillion ($1.29 billion) in the first quarter to Rp16 trillion ($984.6 million) in the second quarter and further down to Rp4 trillion ($246.2 million) in the third quarter. Meanwhile, in early 2025, Indonesia’s Komdigi Ministry blocked 43,063 digital items related to online gambling content.

Gambling is illegal for both citizens and foreigners in Indonesia. The government has also implemented an artificial intelligence monitoring system to detect and block gambling websites and applications.