Gambling in Indonesia – How the Government Combats Offshore Gambling
Indonesia has a lot to offer to visitors including magnificent beaches, exotic resorts, and a mind-boggling nightlife. But the country’s strict Islamic laws prevent people from engaging in gambling. Moreover, anyone who is found to be involved in gambling in indonesia can end up behind the bars whether they are tourists or locals.
The country’s ministries of social affairs, religious affairs, and communications and information technology have joined forces to introduce a ban on online gambling sites since 2012. But this hasn’t been a successful effort as offshore platforms continue to operate.
In order to eradicate gambling from the internet, the government has been working closely with telecommunications providers to identify and block any betting advertising messages. According to Director General of Information Applications Semuel A. Pangerapan, the ministry can handle this task within 24 hours of being informed by the public through reporting websites and social media accounts.
Aside from working with telecommunications, the ministry is also using other resources such as Kominfo to help citizens report any suspicious activities. This community engagement is a vital part of the campaign, as it allows citizens to actively report any gambling-related content and thwart any potential online casino operations.
With the help of Kominfo, the Indonesian government has managed to block over 600,000 IP addresses and websites, 170,000 Meta platforms, and more than 15 TikTok accounts. This is a great accomplishment, especially in a nation where gambling is strictly forbidden.