The Indonesian government plans to cooperate with mobile network providers to suppress unlawful betting activities.
The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information will team up with telecommunications companies to restrict users from accessing gambling websites.
Indonesia will collaborate with mobile operators to fight illicit gambling.
Under Article 303 of the nation’s Criminal Code, Indonesia forbids both physical and internet-based gambling, with violators facing up to four years of imprisonment.
To eliminate illegal online gaming, the administration aims to stop consumers, opinion leaders, and partners from promoting online gambling content.
The Minister of Communication and Information, Budi Arie, stated that illicit providers are discovering new methods to target players in the country, necessitating new blocking tactics.
“Besides using influencers, the recent widespread method of disseminating online gambling content is through SMS and WhatsApp spamming,” he explained.
Therefore, the government will work together with telecom operators to identify and block such messages.
Foreign Influence
The Director General of Information Applications, Samuel A. Pangerapan, stated that the ministry suspects that most gambling advertisements originate from foreign jurisdictions.
“But once they enter Indonesia, the government will terminate access,” he said.
The Indonesian administration is dedicated to taking firm action against internet gambling, aiming to obstruct associated websites and social media posts within a day of discovery.
“Public reports are a vital aid for the government to eliminate online gambling. We can handle it as quickly as possible, at most a day, perhaps a couple of hours, or maybe three hours,” stated the Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate.
To date, over 5,000 gambling websites have been blocked.
From 2018 to 2023, the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information has blocked 846,047 gambling-related items.
The ministry will continue to monitor gambling content online and collaborate with law enforcement to decrease its spread.
The minister also encouraged the public to report online gambling content to the ministry.
The minister also promised to request social media platforms to remove gambling-related content. “If the platforms refuse to remove it, they will be penalized according to the laws and regulations,” he stated.
The ministry has also received reports about bank accounts used for internet gambling.
“From January to July 17, 2023, the Ministry of Communication and Information received 1,859 complaints about the use of bank accounts for online gambling activities,” said Plate.
“This figure is part of the 1,914 complaints received by the Ministry of Communication and Information as of 2023.”
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