Online Gambling: The Golden Hope for Vulnerable Groups

A few weeks ago, Indonesia was shaken by news of a police officer who was killed by his wife, who shockingly also worked as a policewoman. Speculation swirled that her actions were fueled by her husband’s fondness for slot online gambling. However, further investigation reveals that online gambling may have been just one of several underlying reasons that drove her uncontrollable anger.

In response to this incident, the government and the media have intensified their scrutiny of online gambling. Like mushrooms sprouting after the rain, online gambling has become a hot topic.

We know this issue isn’t new; it’s an old problem that has largely been overlooked as if it would never lead to situations as severe as the tragedy that struck the officer’s family.

As Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Effendy, M.A.P., mentioned recently on the Total Politics podcast, “The handling of online gambling has often been sidelined, based on the assumption that the losses only affect the gambler and that it’s their personal choice.”

The problem of gambling—both online and offline—is a dilemma. Legalizing it conflicts with religious teachings, but prohibiting it leads to a game of cat-and-mouse, as we see today.

This issue is especially complex as online gambling often goes hand-in-hand with “Online Loans” and “Online Prostitution.” The cycle becomes, “When you need money, borrow it; when you win, indulge.” Unfortunately, reality doesn’t align with hope, leaving many trapped in a spiral of temporary pleasure.

The addictive nature of online gambling is also undeniable. A common tale begins with casual play, followed by an initial win that draws players in, only to then experience loss after loss.

When we examine online gambling, it’s easy to see why it’s addictive. The virtual experience alone—its stimulating sounds and visuals—enhances the thrill, pushing players to keep going. Although most players are focused solely on winning, it’s clear that even minor visual and auditory effects play a role in keeping players hooked.

Online gambling appeals to all social classes, from the wealthy to the less fortunate. This isn’t surprising when stakes can be as low as Rp 200 (roughly two cents), making it accessible to anyone. And with promises of jackpots up to 5,000 times the initial bet, the lure is hard to resist.

Consider this: if you’re playing online slots with a Rp 200 bet and win Rp 1,000 with a 100x multiplier, you’ve suddenly made Rp 100,000. Tempting, isn’t it?

Ads for online gambling flood social media, often disguised as typical online games. Just a year ago, several celebrities were criticized for promoting online gambling, highlighting that the problem cannot be left solely to the government to resolve. Instead, society, educational institutions, the media, and others must take part in combating this issue through awareness and education.

How can we address online gambling? Should we block social media, as recent discussions have suggested, even proposing to shut down platforms like “X” (formerly known as Twitter)?

In my view, this isn’t effective. All social media platforms are affected by enticing online gambling ads.

If we analyze social media use, I believe Facebook users are especially vulnerable to these ads. Without implying any disrespect, Facebook’s user base tends to be from lower-income, less-educated groups, who may be more susceptible to tempting ads—not just for online gambling, but also for fake news or hoaxes.

Solving rtp slot gacor online gambling is no easy feat, especially since many gambling operators are located outside of Indonesia in countries where gambling is legal, which complicates government efforts to intervene.

As a short-term measure, the government could negotiate with gambling operators to increase the minimum bet, raising it from Rp 200 to a higher amount. This could make the cost prohibitive for lower-income individuals, reducing gambling participation among vulnerable groups.

This approach won’t eliminate online gambling entirely, but it may at least deter the more vulnerable from becoming trapped in its addictive cycle.