Nearly 200,000 Indonesian Children Exposed to Online Gambling

TheIndonesia.co - Indonesia's House Speaker Puan Maharani has raised concerns over government data showing that nearly 200,000 children in the country have been exposed to online gambling, warning that the issue has become a growing child protection crisis in the digital age.

Speaking on Friday, Puan said online gambling is no longer a problem confined to adults, as children are increasingly becoming one of the most vulnerable groups targeted by digital gambling platforms.

"The phenomenon of online gambling in Indonesia has entered a far more alarming phase. If it was previously associated with adults, children are now among the most vulnerable victims," she said.

According to data from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, around 40 per cent of the 200,000 children exposed to online gambling — equivalent to approximately 80,000 children — are under the age of 10.

Puan described the figures as a serious warning sign for the country.

"This is a social alarm that points to a child protection crisis in the digital space," she said.

She argued that rapid technological development has created a digital environment where children often lack adequate safeguards. Devices intended for learning can become gateways to online gambling through hidden advertisements, social media content and gaming applications that disguise betting mechanisms.

"Children often end up accessing online gambling because they simply do not understand what they are being exposed to. This shows that we are not only dealing with digital crime, but also with shortcomings in national digital literacy," Puan said.

The House Speaker also highlighted the psychological and social risks associated with online gambling among children. She warned that young users may develop addictive behaviours linked to the false sense of reward offered by gambling activities, potentially affecting their education, emotional wellbeing and long-term mental resilience.

"In the long term, this could create a generation that is mentally vulnerable and more susceptible to addictive behaviour. The state cannot remain silent; there must be concrete intervention to address this problem," she added.

While acknowledging government efforts to block thousands of gambling websites, Puan argued that enforcement measures alone would not be sufficient. She called for a comprehensive and sustained national digital literacy campaign involving government agencies, schools, families, media organisations and civil society groups.

She also stressed the importance of programmes aimed at protecting children's character development and mental health in the digital era.

Beyond educational initiatives, Puan urged stronger implementation of regulations governing child protection online, including stricter penalties for digital service providers that allow online gambling promotions to appear on their platforms.

She further called for a comprehensive audit of Indonesia's online gambling website blocking system, arguing that authorities must be able to respond as quickly as transnational gambling networks adapt their operations.

"The government, parliament, law enforcement agencies, schools, families, the media and civil society must work together. Young people should not only be taught how to use technology, but also be protected from its darker side," Puan said.