Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) Oleh Soleh has urged the government to continue its efforts to block online gambling sites, despite a reported decline in online gambling transactions in Indonesia.
He emphasized that in addition to blocking access, the police must intensify law enforcement to fully uncover the perpetrators’ networks.
“Online gambling not only harms the people’s economy but also damages the nation’s morals and social resilience,” he said in Jakarta on Sunday.
Data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) showed that up to the third quarter of 2025, the value of online gambling transactions had dropped to Rp155 trillion (US$9.2 billion), a significant decrease from Rp359 trillion recorded throughout 2024.
Soleh also commended the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs for blocking 2.4 million gambling sites and related content between October 20, 2024, and November 2, 2025.
“This shows the government’s seriousness in protecting the public from the harmful effects of online gambling,” he noted.
However, he stressed that efforts to eradicate online gambling should not stop at site blocking. He called on the government and law enforcement agencies to strengthen inter-institutional synergy to ensure a stronger deterrent effect against perpetrators and site developers.
The legislator further urged the ministry to enhance public digital literacy to help citizens avoid the lure of online gambling, which often disguises itself as games or investment schemes. According to him, educating the public is one of the main keys to breaking the chain of online gambling in Indonesia.
“Blocking and law enforcement must be accompanied by education. The government needs to continuously remind the public of the dangers of online gambling, especially the younger generation, who are the main targets of digital promotions,” he remarked.
