‘My hands start itching’: Inside Indonesia’s online gambling addiction
Despite government crackdowns, millions of Indonesians remain addicted to online gambling, with devastating financial and social consequences.Summary
Indonesia is grappling with a widespread online gambling addiction that has become a major social and financial problem. The government has blocked millions of gambling websites and arrested operators, but the industry persists, with 12.3 million Indonesians depositing money into online gambling platforms in 2025, generating 286.8 trillion rupiah in transactions. Many gamblers are low-income earners, and nearly 200,000 minors have been exposed. The article profiles addicts like Kibo, a 27-year-old motorcycle salesman who loses about 30% of his monthly salary to gambling, and Abun, a former day laborer who lost his job and government social assistance due to his addiction. Experts attribute the allure to the promise of jackpots, small initial bets, and tactics similar to social media and mobile games. They argue that blocking websites and arresting operators is insufficient; instead, the government should consider legalizing and regulating gambling, or treating compulsive gambling as a mental health issue with support services. The article highlights the cyclical nature of addiction, the stigma associated with it, and the need for a comprehensive approach to address the demand side of the problem.
(Source：CNA)