In Indonesia, a country with a complete ban on gambling for both local and foreign participants, activity to combat online gambling is growing. Minister of Information and Communications Budi Arie Setiadi announced the creation of a specialized working group aimed at eliminating online gambling. The announcement comes as part of a sustained effort to eradicate gambling in the country. Over the past six months, under Setiadi’s leadership, about a million gambling transactions have been blocked. The new group represents significant progress in the ongoing campaign against illegal online gambling.

The main task of this group is to strengthen interdepartmental cooperation to combat illegal online gambling. The Ministry of Information and Communications will be responsible for shutting down online gambling sites, and enforcement will be entrusted to relevant agencies and law enforcement agencies.

Global initiatives to combat illegal gambling 

Budi Arie Setiadi said: “This week we will complete the creation of an integrated group to combat online gambling. Given the illegal status of such games, effective enforcement measures are needed. The Ministry of Communications and Information will remove online gambling sites, and law enforcement will be entrusted to law enforcement agencies.”
All forms of gambling are strictly prohibited in Indonesia in accordance with Islamic principles and Sharia law. The government has introduced strict legislative and regulatory measures to support this ban. The only exception is licensed free lotteries. There are no government-regulated online gambling operators in the country . Despite efforts to block access to interactive gaming sites, restrictions are often violated. Although there is great interest in gambling, Indonesian law clearly prohibits such activities, with severe legal consequences and penalties for participants, regardless of their age. Thus, with the exception of licensed free lotteries, there are no legal ways to participate in gambling in Indonesia.

In the context of legal and regulatory initiatives, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has announced its actions against illegal gambling during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. The investigation found that 18 overseas services violated the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act.

This international fight against illegal gambling underscores the seriousness of the problem and the need for a coordinated global effort. Countries such as Indonesia and Australia are actively cracking down on illegal online gambling, confirming that the issue remains a concern for regulators around the world. The establishment of an integrated task force in Indonesia is a significant step in the country's ongoing fight against illegal online gambling. As the fight against online gambling intensifies, it will be particularly interesting to watch the development of these efforts and their impact on the online gambling industry in Indonesia and beyond.

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