3.7 million Indonesians gambled online illegally last year, placing $20 billion in bets.

Indonesia is facing a significant gambling issue, with 3.7 million citizens engaging in online gambling last year, placing $20 billion in bets despite it being illegal. The government has attempted to combat this by blocking overseas gambling websites and blacklisting some VPN services, but gamblers have found ways to bypass restrictions. The problem has led to increased suicides, murders, and divorces linked to gambling addiction, prompting the government to set up a task force targeting operators and organized crime. However, critics argue that the efforts are not enough and that the task force needs to investigate larger criminal networks behind the online gambling industry.

August 28, 2024
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