Heaptalk, Jakarta — On Thursday (06/13), President Joko Widodo appointed the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Hadi Tjahjanto, as the Head of the Task Force for Online Gambling Enforcement.
Hadi is considered the appropriate person to handle online gambling enforcement due to his military background. Jokowi has firmly voiced the prohibition and dangers of online gambling. He also urged the public not to engage in gambling, whether offline or online.
“Do not gamble, whether offline or online. If you have some extra money, it’s better to save it or use it as business capital,” President Jokowi emphasized in his statement at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, as shown on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Wednesday (06/12).
The President also highlighted the negative impacts of gambling practices, ranging from loss of property and family breakdowns to the increase in crime and violence in society. He said, “Gambling is not just about risking money or a simple game of chance with rewards. It risks the future – your own future, your family’s future, and our children’s future.”
Therefore, the Head of State emphasized that the government continues to undertake efforts to eradicate and combat online gambling seriously. In addition to forming a task force, the government has also shut down more than 2.1 million online gambling sites to date. “The online gambling task force will soon be fully established, which we hope will accelerate the eradication of online gambling,” Jokowi added.
Recognizing that online gambling is transnational and involves various jurisdictions, President Jokowi stressed the importance of community involvement in curbing gambling. He said, “One of the most important defenses is the defense from our own community and personal defense.”
The President called on religious leaders, community figures, and citizens to actively remind, supervise, and report any form of gambling activity. Active involvement from all levels of society plays a critical role in efforts to build a national defense against online gambling.
