Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has removed nearly 2.8 million online posts over the past year, with the vast majority linked to gambling platforms and promotions. Officials announced the large-scale crackdown in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Alexander Sabar, the Ministry’s Director General of Digital Space Monitoring, said more than 2.1 million posts directly promoted gambling, while the rest came from social media platforms and file-sharing sites. The takedowns covered a wide digital footprint, from websites and Meta-owned apps to Google, X, Telegram, TikTok, and even app stores—underscoring the persistence of illegal gambling content across platforms.
Despite the country’s strict prohibition of both online and offline gambling, millions of Indonesians continue to participate. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) counted 1.07 million active online gamblers in Q1 2025, while Reuters previously estimated that 3 million people engaged in 2023, with wagers nearing $20 billion.
Surveys show exposure is widespread. A Populix poll found that 82% of internet users had seen gambling-related content, while academic studies revealed nearly half of university students had tried online gambling, with more than a quarter still active.
To strengthen oversight, the government has been testing the Content Moderation Compliance System (SAMAN), which requires platforms to follow Indonesian regulations. The trial ends next month. Officials stressed the measures target harmful content rather than free expression and urged the public to report violations to help keep the digital space “clean, safe, healthy, and productive.”
