Government Ready to Form Integrated Task Force to Eradicate Online Gambling

Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie said that as many as four people committed suicide due to online gambling, so the state must be serious.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi (right), Chairman of the Financial Services Authority Commission Mahendra Siregar (second from the right, wearing green batik), and Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara (left, wearing a white shirt) after attending a closed meeting regarding online gambling at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (18/4/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — After all this time ministries and institutions have worked separately, the government plans to eradicate online gambling in a more holistic manner. All agencies, through an integrated task force that will be formed, must work together to complete the eradication of online gambling.

President Joko Widodo led a closed meeting specifically to discuss online gambling at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (18/4/2024). The meeting was attended by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin.

In addition, there were also the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Hadi Tjahjanto, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, and Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara present.

Next, Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Attorney General St Burhanuddin, Head of the Indonesian National Police General (Pol) Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) Mahendra Siregar.

Also read: Against "Online" Gambling, President Jokowi Holds Special Meeting Regarding Online Gambling

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Minister of Communication and Information Technology Budi Arie Setiadi (right) gave a statement to journalists after attending a closed meeting regarding online gambling at the Istana Merdeka in Jakarta on Thursday (18/4/2024).

After a meeting that took place from 2:00-3:10 PM WIB, Budi Arie explained that the government will form an integrated task force to combat online gambling. "This will involve various ministries and agencies holistically," said Budi Arie to reporters.

So far, the Ministry of Communication and Information has been able to block online gambling sites. However, the flow of online gambling money continues to flow.

Also read: The Online Gambling Ecosystem is Taking Us by storm

The Financial Services Authority has the authority to block, but cannot open or freeze accounts. This must be done by law enforcement agencies. Therefore, the task force is expected to eradicate online gambling in a holistic and comprehensive manner.

Budi Arie stated that the turnover of online gambling in Indonesia throughout 2023 - according to the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) data - is approximately IDR 327 trillion. He considers that turnover of this magnitude is very detrimental to the small community.

"This year alone, I said at the beginning of the meeting, four people committed suicide due to online gambling. "We, this country, have to be serious," he said.

Also read: Collateral Victims of "Online" Gambling

To eradicate online gambling and capture its dealers, according to Budi, the Satgas will be formed consisting of law enforcement officials, the Ministry of Communication and Information, the Financial Services Authority, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, and others. The coordinator is estimated to be the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.

Just earlier in the meeting, I reported that this year alone, four people have committed suicide due to online gambling. Our country must take this seriously.

”Just look just in a week there will be dramatic steps taken. "If necessary, just arrest the dealer," joked Budi Arie.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

The Chairman of the Financial Services Authority's Board of Commissioners, Mahendra Siregar (left), provided a statement to journalists after attending a closed meeting regarding online gambling at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta on Thursday (18/4/2024).

Blocking effectiveness

Mahendra expressed that since the end of 2023 until March 2024, 5,000 online gambling-related accounts have been blocked. He deemed the efforts made by Kominfo and OJK to block sites and accounts as not entirely ineffective.

"However, we see that it is one layer of various layers that exist in the process of online gambling activities. "Some things are not done domestically, across borders, some are not done through bank accounts," said Mahendra.

Also read: Eradicating Online Gambling

Some things require further investigation and bank account examination, including when book transfers and other transactions are made. This next layer also needs to be addressed so that no empty space continues to occur.

"It's not that what is being done now is effective or not, but what else after that? Because, you know, the underlying problem has yet to be fully resolved," said Mahendra.

TIM KOMPAS

Sihanoukville Holiday Palace Hotel casino atmosphere, Cambodia, early December 2023.

The task force will sharpen coordination and steps to eradicate online gambling. Moreover, as stated by President Jokowi in his warning to eradicate money laundering and terrorism financing the day before, crypto was used in these crimes. A similar thing happens in online gambling.

Also read: President: Indications of Money Laundering through Crypto Assets IDR 139 Trillion

Often, online gambling is dynamic in nature. "So if they shut down (an online gambling site) here, another one will emerge with a different name," said Budi Arie.

The center for managing online gambling in Indonesia in countries such as Cambodia will also be investigated. "There are 90 people there in Cambodia. And, I say there are no direct flights from Jakarta to Phnom Penh. You have to go through Thailand. They say they're going on vacation," said Budi.

In addition, Mahendra suspects that the mode of online gambling continues to evolve. Therefore, understanding, including handling by law enforcers, must also be more comprehensive.