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ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025
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Government Policy on the Phenomenon of Online Gambling in Indonesia:
An Integrative Analysis of Law, Technology, and Siyasah Syar'iyyah
Budairti
1
, Andi Molawaliada Patodongi
2
1
Department of Constitutional Law (Siyasah Syariyyah), Faculty of Sharia and Law, Alauddin State
Islamic University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, 92113
2
Faculty of Sharia and Law, Sunan Kalijaga Islamic University, Makassar, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.91100037
Received: 07 November 2025; Accepted: 14 November 2025; Published: 27 November 2025
ABSTRACT
The phenomenon of online gambling has grown rapidly as a form of digital crime that is adaptive to the
weaknesses of the state's surveillance system. This study aims to analyze online gambling practices in
Makassar City, Indonesia, with a focus on operational patterns, the effectiveness of government legal policies,
and normative legitimacy from the perspective of siyasah syar'iyyah. The research approach is qualitative and
descriptive, combining empirical juridical and normative analysis of Sharia. Primary data were obtained
through field observation and in-depth interviews. Secondary data are sourced from laws and regulations, and
scientific articles related to the research theme. The results of the study show that online gambling practices in
Makassar City are dominated by slot games, poker, and lotteries accessed through social media, messaging
applications, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Transaction patterns utilize e-wallets and anonymous
accounts, making it difficult to track the law. The government has carried out site blocking, site raids, and
digital socialization, but its effectiveness is limited due to the limitations of digital forensics and weak cross-
agency coordination. Religious institutions began to play a role in moral campaigns, but they were still
sporadic. These structural barriers are even more contrasting when compared to the multi-level strategy of East
Asian countries that combine artificial intelligence (AI) technology, cross-border financial cooperation, and
national digital literacy. The implications of this study emphasize the need to shift the paradigm of online
gambling prevention from a repressive approach to an integrative adaptive model that combines law,
technology, institutions, and religious values. Strategic recommendations include strengthening AI-based
domain monitoring, increasing digital forensic capacity, integrating policies across sectors, and optimizing the
role of communities and religious institutions in prevention. This research contributes to the development of a
national policy framework in the face of the increasingly complex challenges of online gambling.
Keywords: Law; Online gambling; digital crime; public policy; siyasah syar'iyyah.
INTRODUCTION
The rapid development of digital technology has changed the social, economic, and legal structures in various
countries, including Indonesia. One of the most prominent phenomena in the last decade has been the rise of
widespread online gambling practices through different digital platforms. Ease of internet access, the use of
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), social media, and electronic payment platforms are the main driving factors
for the rise of online gambling activities. This phenomenon is not only a legal question, but also concerns
social, economic, moral, and religious dimensions (Nguyen & Lee, 2020; Rahman, 2022). In Indonesia,
technological changes show crime dynamics that are highly adaptive to the weaknesses of the state's regulatory
and supervisory system (Kim, 2021). Thus, the urgency of research on online gambling has become stronger
because it has a direct impact on social order and legal stability.
The practice of online gambling is inseparable from the development of digital technology and the platform's
economic model that facilitates financial transactions in small amounts but at high frequency. Recent studies
show that the adaptive pattern of online gamblers occurs due to a combination of the availability of digital
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025
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infrastructure, weak state supervision capacity, and lack of digital literacy of the community (Tan & Goh,
2020; Wang & Lim, 2019). These activities are often associated with shadow economy activities, money
laundering, and increased crime at the local level (Liu, 2022). In the context of Islamic law, the practice of
gambling (maysir) is an activity that is strictly prohibited because it is considered to damage the social and
economic order (Al-Faruqi, 2019). Therefore, this issue has become very relevant both in the context of
positive law and the principle of siyasah syar'iyyah as the basis for the legitimacy of public policy.
The main problem faced by the government is the inequality between the pace of technological development of
online gambling actors and the available law enforcement capacity. Based on field data and various cyber law
studies, online gambling sites can metamorphose quickly after being blocked, even in less than 12 hours
(Santoso, 2021). This causes repressive legal strategies to be ineffective. The government has relied on Article
303 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) and Law No. 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law No. 11
of 2008 (ITE) as a legal basis, but this legal framework tends to be reactive and has not been supported by
technology-based adaptive mechanisms. Many studies confirm that the effectiveness of the law against digital
crime is highly dependent on the speed of adaptation, digital forensic capabilities, and cross-agency
coordination (Chen, 2020; Park et al., 2022).
In the social context, the productive age group (18–35 years old) is the main target of online gamblers. This
group has high digital behavioral characteristics, is susceptible to the visual temptation of games, and is often
driven by the illusion of instant gain (Lee, 2018; Rahmawati & Yusuf, 2022). Digital psychology research
shows that addictive game design has an essential role in shaping online gambling behavior (Griffiths &
Nuyens, 2017). Meanwhile, economically, online gambling transactions use many e-wallets, anonymous
accounts, and transaction-solving patterns to avoid tracking (Setiawan, 2021). These findings suggest that
online gambling practices have formed a semi-organized ecosystem that complicates conventional law
enforcement efforts.
The formulation of the problem in this study is directed to answer three fundamental questions. First, what is
the pattern of online gambling practices in Makassar City, Indonesia, in the context of social, economic, and
digital technology? Second, how effective are the government's legal policies and enforcement measures
against this phenomenon? Third, how is the legitimacy of the legal action when analyzed from the perspective
of Siyasah Syar’iyyah? This formulation was compiled to identify weak points in legal policy and find
opportunities for integration between positive law and Islamic normative values in strengthening the
effectiveness of online gambling countermeasures.
The necessary solution approach cannot only rely on legal action. Effective online gambling management
models in different countries combine law enforcement strategies with AI-based technology monitoring, cross-
agency coordination, and civil society engagement (Wang & Lim, 2019; Tan & Goh, 2020). In the Indonesian
context, the involvement of religious institutions and community leaders has significant potential because of
the strong Islamic normative foundation in rejecting gambling practices (Al-Qaradawi, 2018). This
collaborative approach allows for the formation of a more adaptive prevention and enforcement system.
Several previous studies have highlighted the success of multi-level models in East Asian countries, such as
South Korea and Singapore, in suppressing online gambling practices. These countries are leveraging
automated detection technologies, cross-border financial tracking systems, and nationwide digital literacy
campaigns (Chen, 2020; Wang & Lim, 2019). However, Indonesia still faces significant gaps in terms of
technology, coordination, and institutional governance. This gap needs to be bridged through policy innovation
that combines a positive legal framework with a religious values-based approach.
The academic literature on online gambling in Indonesia is still mostly descriptive and sectoral, focusing only
on criminal law or social aspects. There has not been much research that integrates Islamic legal approaches,
public policy, and technology in one analytical framework. In fact, this integration is essential to produce
effective and sustainable countermeasures policies (Rahman, 2022; Nugraha et al., 2023). Thus, this study
seeks to fill this gap through a comprehensive normative-empirical approach.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
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This study has the main objectives to: (1) identify and map patterns of online gambling practices in Makassar
City, Indonesia; (2) analyze the effectiveness of existing legal and institutional policies; and (3) evaluate the
legitimacy of government actions from the perspective of siyasah syar’iyyah. The novelty of this research lies
in the integration of empirical and normative analysis, as well as in the proposal of adaptive policies that
combine positive law, digital technology, and religious principles. The scope of the research covers the city of
Makassar, Indonesia, in the period 2024–2025, with a focus on perpetrators, transaction patterns, legal policies,
and the role of the community in prevention. With this framework, the research is expected to make a
significant contribution to strengthening cyber law governance and the national strategy to counter online
gambling in Indonesia.
LITERATURE REVIEW
This literature review aims to provide a solid theoretical and conceptual framework to understand the
phenomenon of online gambling in Makassar City, Indonesia. The primary focus is directed at the relationship
between the development of digital technology, the national legal framework, the principles of siyasah
syar'iyyah, and the effectiveness of law enforcement in the cyber age. In this context, a literature review not
only describes theories and regulations but also synthesizes the findings of previous studies to identify research
gaps relevant to public policy.
The development of information technology has created a fundamental transformation in the way people
access online services, including online gambling. Recent studies show that online gambling is growing
rapidly as internet and mobile device penetration increases in Southeast Asia (Nguyen & Lee, 2020; Rahman,
2022). Online gambling activities are no longer limited to conventional sites, but have penetrated into various
social media platforms, instant messaging applications, and mirror sites that easily evade government blocking
(Kim, 2021; Pranata, 2023). This pattern illustrates the dynamics of cybercrime that are adaptive to state
surveillance instruments.
Theoretically, the study of online gambling draws heavily on social control theory and opportunity theory,
which explain why illegal activity increases when social control is weakened and technological opportunities
are wide open (Clarke & Felson, 2017). In the context of Islamic law, the practice of gambling (maysir) is an
activity that is strictly prohibited because it causes moral and social damage, in line with the principles of dar'u
al-mafāsid (prevention of harm) and maslahah 'ammah (public good) (Al-Faruqi, 2019). The integration
between positive legal norms and Sharia principles is an essential basis in the analysis of public policy
regarding online gambling countermeasures.
Indonesia's national legal framework for gambling has long been regulated in the Criminal Code (KUHP),
specifically Article 303, which prohibits all forms of gambling. In the context of digital technology, this
provision was expanded through Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions
(ITE Law), which provides a legal basis for blocking websites and taking action against perpetrators. However,
the legal literature shows that there is a gap between legal norms and the effectiveness of their implementation
(Santoso, 2021; Aulia & Setiawan, 2023). Blocked gambling sites can reappear in a matter of hours via a new
domain or virtual private network (vpn), so the blocking policy is reactive.
In addition, law enforcement against online gambling is often hampered by the limitations of digital forensics
and weak cross-agency coordination. Comparative studies in Asian countries show that digital forensic
capacity and cross-agency partnerships are key factors in the success of eradicating online gambling (Tan &
Goh, 2020; Park et al., 2022). Indonesia itself still faces serious challenges in institutional integration between
the police, the Ministry of Communication and Information, and financial institutions in detecting the flow of
gambling funds.
From a social perspective, research shows that vulnerable groups, especially adolescents and young adults (18–
35 years old), are the primary targets of the online gambling industry (Lee, 2018; Rahmawati & Yusuf, 2022).
The instant, addictive, and nuanced characteristics of digital entertainment games make many individuals
unconsciously entangled. In this context, a repressive approach alone is not enough. Preventive strategies
based on digital and religious literacy are also needed to break the chain of vulnerability (Hidayat, 2021;
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
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Nugraha et al., 2023). Religious literature places gambling as a violation of the maqashid Sharia (the purpose
of Sharia), especially in safeguarding property (hifz al-mal) and reason (hifz al-'aql). The concept of siyasah
syar'iyyah gives legitimacy to the state to take necessary actions to protect the community from socio-
economic dangers (Al-Qaradawi, 2018). Therefore, an approach based on Islamic values can be a complement
to favorable legal policies in eradicating online gambling.
Various international studies show the effectiveness of a multi-level approach, which combines technology
blocking, financial investigations, and social campaigns (Wang & Lim, 2019; Chen, 2020). This model shows
significant results in reducing the prevalence of online gambling in several East Asian countries. However, in
Indonesia, this kind of policy integration is still minimal. Blocking efforts are carried out sectorally, not always
followed by strengthening financial investigations or public education.
In addition to technological and legal factors, the economic dimension also plays an essential role in
strengthening online gambling networks. Transactions using e-wallets and anonymous accounts provide ample
space for perpetrators to avoid tracking. Research by Setiawan (2021) and Liu (2022) confirms the importance
of cross-agency financial reporting mechanisms to uncover the flow of online gambling funds. Cooperation
between law enforcement officials and banking institutions is crucial to limit the perpetrators' movement
space.
In the context of empirical research, field studies in several major Indonesian cities show that the effectiveness
of law enforcement is highly dependent on the speed of response of the authorities and the capabilities of
monitoring technology (Nugroho, 2023). When blocking attempts are made manually and slowly, the
perpetrators quickly shift their operations to the new domain. In contrast, the use of AI-based automated
systems/web crawlers is more effective in detecting and blocking gambling sites (Prasetyo et al., 2022).
However, there has not been much research in Indonesia that examines the integration between the principles
of siyasah syar'iyyah and favorable legal policies in the context of online gambling. Most studies still focus on
only one aspect, thus providing a gap for this research to fill these theoretical and empirical gaps. In addition,
most previous research has been descriptive, having not developed an integrative policy model between law,
technology, and religious values.
Thus, this literature review confirms the close relationship between technological developments, national legal
frameworks, and religious principles in dealing with online gambling. However, the existing literature also
shows limitations in the approach to countermeasures that are fragmentary. This research is here to contribute
by integrating these three aspects into a more adaptive and comprehensive policy analysis framework.
METHODOLOGY
The methodology of this research is designed to provide a strong scientific foundation in analyzing online
gambling practices in Makassar City from a positive legal perspective and the principles of siyasah syar'iyyah.
The methodological approach used combines descriptive qualitative research with empirical juridical and
normative Sharia approaches. This approach was chosen because it allows researchers to delve deeply into
social, legal, and religious phenomena and interpret the dynamics of online gambling practices contextually.
The qualitative method provides flexibility in capturing the meaning behind social phenomena and legal
policies, while the normative-juridical approach ensures linkage with national regulatory frameworks and
religious principles. According to Creswell (2018), qualitative approaches are particularly relevant in legal and
social research when the main goal is to understand the context, meaning, and process comprehensively. This
approach also supports interpretive analysis that is in line with the tradition of Islamic legal research (Al-
Faruqi, 2019; Smith & Dean, 2021).
The research was carried out in the Makassar City area, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, as one of the urban areas
with a high intensity of online gambling cases. The selection of this location is based on preliminary data from
local police officers and the Ministry of Communication and Information, which recorded a significant
increase in the number of online gambling sites operating in 2024–2025. The scope of the research includes
online gambling practices, government legal policies, and the role of religious institutions in supporting
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countermeasures. This study utilizes two main types of data sources, namely primary and secondary data.
Primary data was obtained through field observation and in-depth interviews with law enforcement officials,
local government officials, religious leaders, and affected communities. Secondary data was obtained through
documentation studies, including laws and regulations, legal rulings, official reports, and scientific
publications related to online gambling. The combination of these two types of data is expected to provide a
complete and comprehensive picture of the phenomenon studied (Merriam & Tisdell, 2016; Yin, 2018).
Data collection was carried out through three main techniques, namely participatory observation, in-depth
interviews, and document analysis. Participatory observation was carried out at several locations that were
indicated to be the center of online gambling activities, including cafes and boarding houses. In-depth
interviews are conducted with a semi-structured approach to gain rich and contextual insights from key
informants. Document analysis through reasoning of legal regulations (K.K.P., ITE Law), regional policies,
and other law enforcement documents. The source triangulation approach is used to ensure the validity of the
data obtained (Denzin, 2017). Data analysis is carried out through two main stages. First, thematic analysis is
used to identify patterns, themes, and relationships between field findings. Second, normative-syar'iy analysis
is carried out to assess the extent of the actions of the government and law enforcement officials in accordance
with the principle of dar'u al-Mafāsid. The analysis process is carried out iteratively, starting from raw data
collection, thematic coding, categorization, and normative interpretation. This analytical approach allows for
the formation of a holistic understanding between the empirical and normative dimensions (Miles, Huberman,
& Saldaña, 2018).
Research Results
The results of this study were compiled based on field data obtained through observation, in-depth interviews,
and analysis of legal documents, and combined with theoretical frameworks and academic literature. All
findings are presented in a systematic thematic structure, reflecting the complexity of online gambling
practices in Makassar City and the accompanying legal and social responses.
Typology and Operational Patterns of Online Gambling
The initial findings of the study show that online gambling practices in Makassar City are proliferating and are
adaptive to state supervision instruments. This gambling activity is mainly in the form of slot games, online
poker, lotteries, and buying and selling chips on entertainment applications such as popular online games that
are widely used by the public. Access to gambling platforms is obtained through a variety of channels,
including links circulating on social media, groups of instant messaging apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp,
as well as the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass government blocks. These findings show a
pattern similar to those noted in regional comparative studies in Southeast Asia (Nguyen & Lee, 2020; Kim,
2021).
Online gambling operational practices generally utilize digital transaction systems through e-wallets, QRIS,
and anonymous accounts that are difficult to track by law enforcement officials. Based on field observations,
perpetrators usually use loan accounts or fictitious accounts to avoid detection by the banking system. This
kind of mode is also found in cross-border research on cybercrime and online gambling (Setiawan, 2021; Liu,
2022). Additionally, local gambling operators often partner with overseas domain providers that have speedy
site rotation capacity—in some cases, new domains can be active in less than 12 hours after the blocking of an
old site.
Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Users
Data from interviews with police officers and community leaders shows that the productive age group (18-35
years old) is the dominant user of online gambling platforms in Makassar. The majority come from informal
workers, college students, and high school students. This demographic characteristic is consistent with the
findings of previous studies on the vulnerability of young people to online gambling activities (Lee, 2018;
Rahmawati & Yusuf, 2022). The main driving factors for this group's involvement include ease of access,
curiosity, and the illusion of quick profit.
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In addition to age and social status factors, this study also found that there is a psychological dimension that
strengthens dependence on online gambling. Some informants admitted that they were interested in the game's
attractive visual features, instant reward system, and the existence of an online community that strengthens the
sense of attachment. Previous studies have confirmed that elements of digital game design have a significant
role in encouraging addictive user behavior (Griffiths & Nuyens, 2017; Rahman, 2022).
Transaction Patterns and Circulation of Funds
The pattern of online gambling transactions shows characteristics that are highly fluid and difficult to track.
Any bets or chip purchases are made through e-wallets and bank transfers between accounts, often with a small
amount so as not to suspect the banking system. Field investigations identified a pattern of transaction
smurfing to circumvent automated financial reporting systems. These findings are consistent with the
international financial crime literature that highlights the close relationship between online gambling and
money laundering activities (Liu, 2022; Park et al., 2022).
Some of the perpetrators interviewed claimed to act as "chip exchange agents" who profited from the
difference in selling and buying prices. This kind of transaction exhibits the semi-organized characteristics that
strengthen the online gambling ecosystem. This emphasizes the urgency of strengthening cooperation between
law enforcement officials, financial authorities, and digital payment service providers to suppress the
circulation of illegal funds.
Government Response and Actions
The government's action against online gambling practices in Makassar involves several layers of strategy. The
first strategy is repressive actions in the form of domain blocking, raids on physical locations suspected of
being places of operation, and legal action against perpetrators and operators by institutions that have
authority, namely the Ministry of Communication and Digital of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemkomdigi).
The following are the actions of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on online gambling practices in
Indonesia from 2024 to 2025, as described in the table:
Table: Government Actions Against Online Gambling Practices in Indonesia 2024–2025
No
Government
Actions
Forms and Practices
of Online Gambling
Platform
Digital
Information
1
Domain Blocking
Live betting sites and
slot games
Online
Gambling
Websites
Blocking of primary domains and
subdomains identified by the Ministry of
Communication and Communications
2
App Removal
Chip games and betting
via mobile app
Mobile Apps
(APKs)
Removal of apps from the Play Store/App
Store and local servers
3
Account Blocking
and Promotional
Content
Affiliate link promotion
and gambling link
Social Media
(Facebook,
Instagram,
TikTok)
Closure of official accounts and affiliate
promotional content
4
Communication
Network
Monitoring and
Shutdown
Transactions through
groups and channels
Messaging
Platforms
(Telegram,
WhatsApp)
Deactivation of active groups and
channels for online gambling transactions
5
DNS/IP Address
Blocking
Domain redirection via
VPN and mirror site
Mirror
Domains and
VPNs
DNS/IP blocking is used to avoid
blocking the leading site
Source: primary data, 2025
Based on the data from the table, in the period 2024-2025, there were 3,300 blocking of main domains and
subdomains identified by the Ministry of Communication and Commerce, 535 removal of applications from
Playstore/App Store and local servers, 307 closures of official accounts and affiliate promotional content, 161
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Deactivation of active groups and channels for online gambling transactions, 1,265 DNS/IP blocking used to
avoid blocking of leading sites. The second strategy is public socialization through digital campaigns and
public literacy education to prevent participation in online gambling.
However, the effectiveness of both strategies is still limited. Gambling sites that have been blocked are
reappearing in a short period of time, and digital socialization has not fully reached vulnerable groups of
society. These findings reinforce the results of previous research that state that domain blocking without
strengthening the monitoring and coordination system across sectors only has a short-term impact (Santoso,
2021; Chen, 2020).
Involvement of Religious Institutions and Community Leaders
In the socio-religious context, the findings of the study show that the role of religious institutions and
community leaders is still sporadic. Several mosques and digital da'wah institutions in Makassar have started
to carry out online anti-gambling campaigns with a moral and spiritual approach, but they have not been
systematically coordinated with government programs. In fact, the principle of siyasah syar'iyyah provides a
basis for legitimacy for the government to involve moral authority in preventing social harm (Al-Qaradawi,
2018; Al-Faruqi, 2019).
Several scholars and community leaders stated that digital da'wah can be an effective instrument to narrow the
space for social legitimacy for online gambling practices. This is in line with the findings of Nugraha et al.
(2023), which show that interventions based on religious values can strengthen the effectiveness of public
policies.
Structural and Technical Barriers to Law Enforcement
Despite the various efforts that have been made, law enforcement against online gambling in Makassar still
faces structural and technical obstacles. First, budget and human resource limitations are the main obstacles to
strengthening cyber units at the regional police level. Second, coordination across agencies (Police,
Diskominfo, OJK, and local governments) has not been fully integrated. Third, the lack of digital forensic
capacity causes many cases not to be comprehensively traceable.
These barriers reinforce the conclusion of the international literature that the success of eradicating online
gambling is highly dependent on the speed of technological adaptation and institutional synergy (Tan & Goh,
2020; Park et al., 2022). In the local context of Makassar, these efforts are still in their early stages and require
significant institutional strengthening.
Comparison with International Practice
To provide comparative context, this study also examines law enforcement practices against online gambling
in several East Asian countries. Countries such as South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia combine three layers
of strategies, namely AI-based automated domain blocking, cross-border financial cooperation, and national
digital literacy campaigns. The multi-level approach has been shown to reduce online gambling traffic
significantly (Wang & Lim, 2019; Tan & Goh, 2020).
This comparison shows the strategic gap between Indonesia and these countries, especially in the capacity of
technology monitoring and cross-sectoral policy integration. However, the experiences of these countries also
provide an important lesson that the success of online gambling countermeasures is not solely determined by
legal sanctions, but by policy synergy across fields.
Implications of the Findings for the Policy Framework
The results of this study have several important implications for strengthening public policies. First, the
findings regarding the operational patterns of online gambling show the need to shift from a reactive law
enforcement approach to an adaptive preventive approach based on digital technology. Second, the
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involvement of non-state actors, such as religious institutions and local communities, needs to be strengthened
so that countermeasures policies have a stronger basis of social legitimacy. Third, national strategies need to
include cross-agency and cross-country cooperation to address the transnational nature of online gambling
practices.
Thus, the results of this study strengthen the argument that online gambling in Makassar cannot rely on a
single policy instrument, but requires a multi-level approach that combines law, technology, economics, and
religious values.
DISCUSSION
The findings of this study show that the practice of online gambling in Makassar City, Indonesia, represents a
digital crime phenomenon that is highly adaptive to technological developments and weaknesses in the law
enforcement system. This adaptivity can be seen from the circulation patterns of gambling sites and
applications that are rapidly regenerating, the use of encrypted communication channels, and the use of digital
payment systems that are difficult to track. This fact confirms the theoretical conclusion that cybercrime tends
to develop faster than the regulatory capacity of countries, particularly in developing countries (Kim, 2021;
Park et al., 2022). In this context, domain blocking without the support of adaptive detection mechanisms and
cross-sector collaboration only results in short-term effects, not structural changes.
This phenomenon also indicates that reactive legal strategies are not effective enough in dealing with digital
crime. Regulations in the Criminal Code and the ITE Law do provide a legal basis for enforcement, but they do
not necessarily guarantee the state's ability to detect, prevent, and take action on online gambling practices on
an ongoing basis. Many policy studies confirm that in the context of cybercrime, the effectiveness of the law is
highly dependent on technical capacity, speed of adaptation, and interoperability between law enforcement
agencies (Chen, 2020; Tan & Goh, 2020). Therefore, the strategic shift from a purely law enforcement
paradigm to a digital risk management paradigm is essential.
Fundamental weaknesses in Indonesia's institutional structure related to online gambling can be seen from the
slow coordination across agencies and the limited capacity of digital forensics at the regional level. While in
many East Asian countries, multi-level strategies with AI support and automated monitoring systems have
been implemented to reduce online gambling traffic (Wang & Lim, 2019; Nguyen & Lee, 2020), in Indonesia,
a similar approach is still partial and sectoral. This inequality is what magnifies the gap between the speed of
adaptation of actors and the state's response capacity. Without a comprehensive institutional transformation,
the effectiveness of the law will continue to be in an inferior position compared to the dynamics of digital
crime.
However, the problem of online gambling in Makassar can not only be understood from a legal and
technological perspective. This phenomenon also has a significant social dimension, especially since the
majority of users come from productive age groups with low levels of digital literacy and high psychological
attraction to online games (Rahmawati & Yusuf, 2022; Griffiths & Nuyens, 2017). The behavioral reliance on
instant rewards and the illusion of quick profits creates a cycle of digital addiction that strengthens the
gambling market. This condition shows that digital literacy-based prevention and socio-religious intervention
have a strategic role in breaking the chain of vulnerability (Hidayat, 2021; Nugraha et al., 2023).
The involvement of religious institutions and community leaders in prevention efforts is currently still sporadic
and not integrated with government policies. In fact, within the framework of siyasah syar'iyyah, the state has
the legitimacy to involve moral authority as part of efforts to protect the public interest and prevent harm (Al-
Qaradawi, 2018; Al-Faruqi, 2019). This approach has proven effective in other contexts in Southeast Asia,
where the involvement of socio-religious institutions expands the scope of state policies and strengthens their
normative legitimacy (Rahman, 2022). In the context of Makassar City, strengthening cooperation between
religious institutions and the government can be an essential catalyst for building a sustainable prevention
ecosystem.
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From an economic perspective, the results of this study also show the existence of a semi-organized structure
in the online gambling ecosystem, especially in chip buying and selling activities and e-wallet transactions that
are difficult to track. This characteristic shows similarities to shadow economy patterns that are often
associated with cross-border money laundering activities (Liu, 2022). Therefore, online gambling
countermeasures cannot be separated from stronger financial tracking systems, including the integration of
suspicious transaction reporting systems and cooperation with monetary authorities. In the international
literature, the integration of law enforcement with financial tracking has been proven to increase the
effectiveness of handling cybercrime (Setiawan, 2021; Tan & Goh, 2020).
Comparisons with international policies also show significant strategic differences. In countries such as South
Korea and Singapore, online gambling countermeasures include AI-based domain surveillance, international
cooperation in financial intelligence, as well as national digital literacy campaigns (Wang & Lim, 2019; Chen,
2020). This multi-layered approach has succeeded in suppressing the growth of the online gambling market
consistently. In Indonesia, a similar approach is still hampered by institutional fragmentation and technological
limitations. This gap shows that strengthening technology governance is a must, not just a policy choice.
In addition, the study highlights the importance of building a law enforcement strategy that is adaptive to
technological dynamics. When actors are able to take advantage of regulatory and technological loopholes
quickly, the state must develop adaptive mechanisms that are equal to or even faster. In this context, the use of
AI technology for automated and real-time domain monitoring can be one of the realistic solutions. The latest
literature also supports the importance of automation in tackling digital crime because it is able to speed up
responses and reduce the manual workload of law enforcement officials (Prasetyo et al., 2022; Park et al.,
2022).
However, a technological approach alone is not enough if it is not accompanied by improvements in
institutional and regulatory aspects. The fragmented coordination structure between police agencies, the
Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and local
governments must be replaced with an integrated mechanism that allows for data exchange and rapid action
across sectors. The experience of several Asian countries shows that the success of multi-level policies is
highly dependent on institutional interoperability and real-time response (Tan & Goh, 2020; Wang & Lim,
2019). Indonesia needs to accelerate the formation of this kind of coordination structure if it wants to match the
speed of adaptation of online gamblers.
Indonesia's socio-cultural context also provides its own complexity in efforts to counter online gambling.
Although religious norms and positive laws both prohibit the practice of gambling, the penetration of digital
media and public perception of online gambling as "light entertainment" creates a social paradox. Many
perpetrators do not feel that they are involved in a criminal act because the transaction is done through a
personal device and not physically in a casino or gambling establishment. This phenomenon is similar to the
findings of studies of online gambling user behavior in several Southeast Asian countries, which show that
there is moral and legal ambiguity in people's perceptions of online activities (Nguyen & Lee, 2020; Rahman,
2022).
Thus, one of the biggest challenges in online gambling prevention policies in Makassar City is to build strong
legal and social awareness at the community level. Without a change in public perception, legal and
technological strategies will only touch the surface, not the root of the problem. Legal literacy and digital
ethics are an integral part of long-term policies in controlling these activities (Hidayat, 2021; Nugraha et al.,
2023).
From the point of view of Islamic law, the siyasah syar'iyyah approach offers a strong normative foundation to
encourage state involvement in protecting society from the social damage caused by online gambling. The
principles of maslahah and dar'u al-mafāsid (preventing harm) emphasize the importance of preventive and
repressive measures on a broad social scale (Al-Qaradawi, 2018; Al-Faruqi, 2019). The integration between
positive legal approaches and Islamic law can strengthen the legitimacy of public policy, especially in areas
that sociologically have a strong religious base, such as Makassar City.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025
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By combining empirical findings and theoretical frameworks, it can be emphasized that tackling online
gambling requires a multidimensional approach in the form of strengthening adaptive technologies,
institutional reforms, social interventions based on digital literacy and religious values, and firm but inclusive
legal policies. The complexity of this issue also suggests that a single strategy will not be adequate in the face
of a phenomenon that moves quickly and crosses jurisdictional boundaries. Therefore, the development of a
multi-level and collaborative approach is a logical and urgent policy direction.
CONCLUSION
This study confirms that the practice of online gambling in Makassar City is a form of digital crime that is
adaptive, complex, and transnational. This adaptivity is reflected in the ease of domain rotation, the use of
encrypted communication channels, and the use of digital payment systems that make it difficult to track the
law. The government's current countermeasures strategy, which currently relies on a repressive approach
through site blocking and legal action, is short-term and has not touched the root of the problem. Field findings
and literature synthesis show that policy effectiveness is highly dependent on technological capacity building,
cross-sectoral institutional coordination, and the participation of non-state actors, especially religious
institutions and local communities.
The main contribution of this research lies in the integration between the positive legal framework and the
principles of siyasah syar'iyyah in analyzing online gambling prevention policies. This approach enriches the
treasures of legal and public policy science in Indonesia by expanding the normative, technological, and social
dimensions in an analytical framework. The practical implications include the need to strengthen AI-based
digital monitoring, the establishment of an integrated cross-agency coordination mechanism, and the
integration of religious approaches in prevention strategies. The study also opens up further research
opportunities focusing on the development of adaptive governance models, measurement of long-term policy
effectiveness, and cross-border comparisons in online gambling countermeasures.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author would like to express his gratitude to the leadership and colleagues at the Department of
Constitutional Law (Siyasah Syar’iyyah), Faculty of Sharia and Law, State Islamic University (UIN) Alauddin
Makassar, for their full support. Similarly, gratitude is extended to the Tompongpatu Education Foundation
(YADITU) for their assistance throughout the conduct of this research.
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