Indonesia Warns Over Child Gambling Exposure

Indonesia has warned that nearly 200,000 children in the country have been exposed to online gambling content as authorities continue expanding efforts to combat illegal betting activity and its wider social effects.

The statement was made by Meutya Hafid during an anti-online gambling event held in Medan. According to Hafid, around 80,000 of the affected children are reportedly under the age of ten.

Hafid said the growing exposure of children to online gambling platforms reflected the broader spread of illegal gambling activity among adults. She stated that the issue should be viewed not only as a law enforcement challenge, but also as a wider social problem affecting communities and families.

All forms of gambling remain illegal in Indonesia under national criminal law and authorities have increased enforcement measures in recent years targeting offshore gambling operators and gambling-related advertising directed at Indonesian users.

The minister stated that website blocking measures and police raids alone would not be enough to address the issue. Instead, she called for stronger digital literacy programmes and public awareness campaigns aimed at educating citizens about the risks associated with online gambling.

Hafid also highlighted the social impact of gambling addiction, particularly on women and children, noting that some households had experienced financial hardship and domestic abuse linked to gambling-related problems.

According to the ministry, greater cooperation is needed between government agencies, law enforcement bodies and online platforms to limit the spread of gambling content and advertisements.

The government also called on major social media and digital platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, to strengthen efforts to remove gambling advertisements targeting Indonesian users.

Hafid said responsibility for combating online gambling should extend beyond government institutions to include digital platforms, community organisations, religious leaders and families, which she described as important frontline actors in preventing the spread of gambling-related content.