Depok-Online gambling that has recently been widely reported in the media, inspired Vindaniar Yuristamanda Putri, S.I.A., M.M., a lecturer in the Financial Administration and Banking study program, Vocational Education Program, University of Indonesia (UI) to educate the public according to Vindaniar’s scientific background. Moreover, Drone Emprit (an artificial intelligence-based media monitoring company) published that this year Indonesia ranks first in the world as the country with the most online gambling players, namely 201,122 people.
According to it, online gambling is increasingly rampant, because of the massive advertising and the ease of people in accessing the online gambling platform. Although not directly appearing on everyone’s page, online gambling ads still appear by following the internet user algorithm.
“For example, if someone has ever searched for information about online gambling on a search engine, then it is possible that online gambling ads will appear on their social media. The ads also do not explicitly say online gambling. With an attractive appearance and animation, the ads make people interested in entering the application and playing without realizing that the game is gambling,” said Vindaniar.
She added, according to Article 303 of the Criminal Code, gambling is a prohibited game because the possibility of winning or getting profit from the game depends only on luck. Like games that do provide a pleasant effect for their users, online gambling is also like that.
“The pattern of events is almost the same, where initially the player always wins until they gets multiple profits. Until at one point the player will be addicted and spend all the assets they had for gambling capital. This is what ultimately causes economic problems in society to psychological problems for the players,” said Vindaniar.
According to her, one of the initial factors that drives someone to online gambling is psychological factors, such as curiosity. Gamblers who were initially just curious, after getting big money, start to get addicted and continue to increase their gambling capital. Another factor is the economy.
Online gambling players who are generally from the lower middle class try to get additional income from online gambling. In fact, online gambling is a system game that gives players a big advantage at the beginning, but the losses that occur after that are very unlimited.
(Photo: One of the financial literacy activities carried out by the Financial and Banking Administration study program)
In the first quarter of 2024, based on the findings of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the turnover of funds in online gambling has reached IDR 600 trillion. This figure has increased rapidly from the total turnover of funds in 2023, which was IDR 327 trillion. Based on these figures, it is concluded that the turnover of funds in online gambling is very massive. The funds are collected from players to small bookies, either through transfers or digital wallets. Then, the small bookies send them to the big bookies.
Vindaniar stated, “To cover up the gambling practice, the bookies borrow other people’s accounts to collect funds from the players. This makes it easy for the bookies to run the players’ money abroad and also makes it difficult for the Financial Services Authority (OJK) to trace the transactions that occur.”
The low level of financial literacy among Indonesian people is still one of the triggers for this phenomenon. Increasing financial literacy in the form of community empowerment must continue to be carried out to every level of society.
“This financial literacy needs to be supported by all parties, both the government, academics, and community leaders. The government as a policy maker should be able to act faster in eradicating this online gambling practice. Starting from closing its platform so that it cannot be accessed by the public, to taking firm action against all online gambling bookies and admins,” said Vindaniar.
Some of the negative impacts caused by online gambling are very diverse. Online gamblers will economically experience quite large financial losses, even to the point of bankruptcy. Not a few of them are trapped in very large debts because of gambling. Another impact is increasing poverty and crime rates. Thus, this practice will produce a “snowball” effect to various environments.
In addition, online gambling can trigger addiction in its players. Without the perpetrators realizing it, they spend a lot of time just playing gambling. No less important, online gambling also risks data theft and fraud.
Vindaniar appealed to the public not to be tempted by the practice of getting money instantly. One of the characteristics of financial crimes that is easiest to identify is one that promises multiple profits in a short time. Vindaniar also invited the public to start paying attention to their financial management. Allocation of funds can be done starting from daily needs for a month, payment of bills and installments, allocation for savings, emergency funds, to investment in legal securities instruments such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.
“If someone’s income does not allow them to invest, then there is no need to force it. Someone should have savings and emergency funds first before investing. This financial literacy must continue to be echoed so that the Indonesian people can avoid illegal actions, such as online gambling which only has a negative impact on every perpetrator,” she said.
