Indonesia weighs social media funding for gambling rehab plan
Indonesia’s lawmakers are considering a proposal that would require social media companies to help fund gambling addiction treatment programmes, as concerns increase over the scale and impact of online gambling nationwide.
Members of Commission III of the People’s Representative Council, including Gus Abduh, say digital platforms play a role in the spread of gambling-related content and should therefore be included in efforts to support rehabilitation services.
“Platforms should contribute to the development of rehabilitation centres,” Abduh said.
Proposal targets platform accountability
The proposal is part of wider talks on whether social media companies should be financially responsible for spreading online gambling content. Lawmakers are looking at whether platforms that gain traffic from this content should also help deal with its social impact.
Abduh has called for a framework that would require platforms and applications to help build and fund rehabilitation centres for online gambling addiction across all regions of Indonesia.
“Digital platforms must not only take direct or indirect profits from traffic, but must also take responsibility for the social impacts they create. They must contribute to funding rehabilitation centres for online gambling addicts,” he said in a statement.
The proposal reflects ongoing efforts by policymakers to identify new funding sources to strengthen the country’s response to gambling addiction, particularly as online exposure continues to grow through digital channels.
Limited rehabilitation capacity
Officials have highlighted that rehabilitation services in Indonesia remain limited compared to rising demand. This gap has affected the ability of authorities to respond effectively to cases of addiction.
According to Abduh, the current imbalance between the scale of online gambling and the availability of recovery services cannot continue.
“This imbalance cannot be allowed to continue. The spread of online gambling is very massive, but recovery services for victims are minimal. The state must be present and ensure there are rehabilitation centres in every region,” he said.
Lawmakers view the proposed contributions from social media companies as one way to expand rehabilitation infrastructure and increase the number of facilities available to those affected.
Abduh also described online gambling addiction as a behavioural disorder that can lead to loss of self-control and increase the risk of criminal activity.
“If it is not addressed through rehabilitation, online gambling addiction will continue to produce new criminal offenders. This is what we must stop,” he said.
Links to crime and financial impact
Authorities have linked several recent criminal cases to online gambling activity. These include violent incidents and financial crimes such as embezzlement and theft.
In one case, a subdistrict head in Medan Maimun was involved in embezzlement amounting to Rp1.2 billion (US$72,000). Another case involved theft of Rp400 million ($24,000), by a worker in Semarang.
Data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) shows that the circulation of funds linked to online gambling in Indonesia has reached hundreds to more than Rp1,000 trillion per year ($60 billion). This has led authorities to classify the issue as not only a legal concern but also as a national social and economic crisis.
Wider enforcement and financial crackdown
At the same time, Indonesia is tightening its action against online gambling. The financial regulator, Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK), has blocked 33,252 accounts suspected of links to such activity, up from 32,556.
“Related to the eradication of online gambling, which has wide-ranging effects on the economy and financial sector, OJK has requested banks to carry out enhanced due diligence or blocking of 33,252 accounts indicated to be linked to online gambling,” said Dian Ediana Rae, the regulator’s Chief Executive of Banking Supervision.
Data from the PPATK shows deposits on illegal gambling platforms rise during busy periods. They increased from IDR 2.96 trillion ($180 million) in January and IDR 3.05 trillion ($185 million) in February to IDR 5.08 trillion ($308 million) in April following Eid.
Authorities have moved against online gambling operations by shutting down 132 illegal websites and freezing Rp255.75 billion ($15.5 million) linked to the activity.
Online content under scrutiny
At the same time, investigations into influencers and digital platforms promoting gambling are ongoing. This highlights a wider focus on how gambling content is distributed online, not just on enforcement.
The proposal seeks to deal with both the spread of this content and the limited support available to those affected. By linking platforms to rehabilitation funding, lawmakers aim to address its real-world impact.
Abduh also pointed to international approaches, noting that countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have adopted rehabilitation-focused strategies alongside enforcement.
“We need a strong legal basis. In such regulation, platforms and social media applications must be required to contribute to building a national rehabilitation system for online gambling addicts,” he said.
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