Distressing: Worker in Cilegon Racks Up Billions in Debt Due to Online Gambling, Gets Sacked
Labour organisations and the Banten Regional Police have issued warnings about online gambling (judol) destroying lives. It was revealed that a worker in Cilegon had accumulated debts of billions of rupiah due to an online gambling addiction.
The Banten Regional Police, together with the Federation of Chemical, Energy and Mining Workers’ Unions of the All-Indonesian Workers’ Union (FSP KEP SPSI), held digital literacy education in Serang City on Thursday (30/7/2026).
The chairman of the Banten branch of FSP KEP SPSI, Imam Baihaqi, said the phenomenon of online gambling still persists in industrial environments. Some workers have been forced to borrow money because of their gambling addiction.
“In Cilegon, the loans reached billions. It started because they won at online gambling, then they added more capital. Desperate, they eventually turned to online lending platforms,” he said.
Because the worker was unable to repay the debt, the lenders telephoned the company, and the case became a serious problem.
“The lenders kept calling and even came to the factory. Because it disrupted operations and was not the company’s responsibility, the worker was eventually dismissed,” Imam revealed.
In addition, many workers have become lazy at work because their wages go entirely towards paying loan interest, leaving nothing at all for their children and wives.
“There are cases like that too — when the debts pile up, they become lazy at work. Their wages go to paying debts, and nothing is left for their children and wives,” he said.
Meanwhile, the head of Sub-Directorate V of the Cyber Crime Unit at the Banten Regional Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate, AKBP Andi Setio Wibowo, said the police want to raise workers’ awareness of the dangers of cybercrime, online gambling and online lending.
“We are giving our colleagues in the trade unions an understanding that cybercrime is becoming increasingly rampant, from phishing and fake accounts to illegal online loans, illegal online gambling and the spread of hoaxes, all of which individuals must guard against,” he said.
Andi expressed hope that workers in Banten could become agents of digital literacy for their families, communities, neighbours and friends, as an early form of mitigation against falling victim to cybercrime.
Andi also stressed that cybercrime does not discriminate by background. “Anyone who uses a mobile phone and social media is a vulnerable group,” he explained.