Indonesia rallies APEC to fight illegal online gambling’s $8B drain
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has called for international cooperation to tackle illegal online gambling, framing it as a significant threat to the Asia-Pacific region. At the recent APEC summit in South Korea, Prabowo urged fellow leaders to join forces against this growing problem.
Prabowo positioned Indonesia as a champion for collective action against the 'digital underworld', as he put it. He stressed the need for global solidarity to strengthen digital safeguards and prevent data theft related to online gambling. The president's stance comes amidst a 2024 UN report labeling Southeast Asia a 'hotbed' of cybercrime and illegal gambling.
The Indonesian leader's push for APEC-wide cooperation follows acknowledgments by Indonesian officials of gaps in enforcement. They have called for a focus on financial institutions facilitating transactions, with Indonesia losing an estimated $8 billion annually due to outflows from online gambling. The country has intensified efforts to curb the issue, including ordering banks to block accounts linked to gambling activity.
Prabowo's call for international cooperation reflects the growing concern about illegal online gambling's impact on economic and social stability across the Asia-Pacific region. With research estimating that 72 million people worldwide experience harm related to gambling, the need for collective action is clear. The APEC nations are now urged to consider Prabowo's proposal and work together to combat this transnational threat.
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