Judol Content Mapping & Ad Tracking Calls Grow

Indonesia Reports Significant Decline in Online Gambling Transactions, Cites Collaborative Government Effort

Indonesia is witnessing a substantial reduction in online gambling activity following a concerted government crackdown, with officials reporting a 57% decrease in related transactions as of the third quarter of 2025. The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), aims to dismantle the pervasive network of online gambling sites and content that has plagued the nation.

The government is currently mapping the distribution of over 2.4 million sites and content pieces linked to online gambling, known locally as “judol,” across various digital platforms. According to data presented on Thursday, November 6, 2025, the total number of identified sites and content reaches 2,458,934, encompassing 2,166 million sites alongside file-sharing platforms.

“We are dealing with a massive scale of content,” a senior official stated. “While not all file-sharing content is gambling-related, these platforms are frequently exploited to host and distribute illicit online gambling materials.”

The breakdown of identified content reveals a widespread presence across major platforms: over 123,000 instances on file-sharing services, more than 106,000 on Meta platforms, 41,000 on Google and YouTube, 18,600 on X (formerly Twitter), 1,942 on Telegram, 1,138 on TikTok, 14 on Line, and three on the App Store. Authorities are actively seeking collaboration from these platforms to enhance content moderation and account suspension.

“We are asking for collaboration from the platforms to continue to sub-censor gambling content sites or accounts embedded on these platforms,” the official added.

The crackdown is not solely focused on content removal. A key component involves tracking financial transactions to assess the effectiveness of the measures. The Komdigi is working closely with the PPATK to correlate content reduction with tangible declines in gambling-related financial activity.

“We need to base our policies on concrete data,” explained the official. “That’s why we consulted with the Head of PPATK to verify whether the reduction in online gambling is reflected in transaction data.”

The results are promising. Throughout 2024, online gambling transactions totaled IDR 359 trillion. However, by the third quarter of 2025, that figure had fallen to IDR 155 trillion – a significant decrease. Initial data suggests a 70% reduction in activity, with current figures indicating a total decline of 57%.

According to Ivan Yustiavandana, Head of PPATK, the government has demonstrably reduced the value of online gambling transactions compared to the previous year. “Indeed, there has been a very significant decline, once again I emphasize that there has been a very significant decline in the number of online gambling transactions,” he said.

This effort is being undertaken with the full support of President Prabowo Subianto, who recently highlighted Indonesia’s commitment to combating online gambling at the APEC Forum. “We are taking this seriously, we are following up on the President’s directions, especially supporting his program during his future,” Yustiavandana stated.

The decline in transactions underscores the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between government institutions to strengthen oversight, enforcement, and access blocking. The success of this initiative represents a crucial step in protecting Indonesian citizens from the harmful effects of online gambling.