Communications Minister Vows to Continue Battling Online Gambling Access After Hundreds of Thousands of Children Exposed

Jakarta - Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Menkomdigi), Meutya Hafid, has reaffirmed that her ministry will continue to vigorously block online gambling sites and content. “We will keep fighting access to it. But if the perpetrators are not dealt with firmly, new sites will keep popping up,” Meutya stated during the Indonesia GOID Menyapa Gass Pol Tolak Judol-Jauhi Judol, Anak Medan Pilih Masa Depan event, quoted from a press release on Thursday (14/5/2026). Meutya emphasised the need for stronger cross-sector cooperation to eradicate online gambling in Indonesia. She noted that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs requires support from the National Police (Polri), the Financial Services Authority (OJK), banking institutions, and all digital platforms to combat online gambling. Therefore, the ministry has urged platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to take greater responsibility by removing such content. “Online gambling is prohibited in Indonesia. All parties must share the same moral and legal responsibility,” Meutya said. Previously, Meutya revealed that nearly 200,000 Indonesian children have been exposed to online gambling, or judol, on social media, including around 80,000 children under 10 years old. “Online gambling is not just digital entertainment; it is a serious threat that destroys family economies, triggers domestic violence, fractures social relationships, and ruins children’s futures,” Meutya stated. The Golkar Party politician said that the roles of religious leaders, community figures, communities, and families are also crucial in building an anti-online gambling culture. “Especially mothers and all families, become the main fortress at home. Protect our children from the dangers of online gambling from an early age. Reject judol, safeguard the family, save the children’s future,” she added.