Expert calls for joint ASEAN cyber action against online gambling

Differences in gambling regulations among ASEAN member states further complicate collective efforts.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - International relations expert and President University lecturer Teuku Rezasyah has urged Indonesia to strengthen cyber cooperation with other ASEAN member states to combat cross-border online gambling.

He said such cooperation should include tracing operational networks, prosecuting offenders, and uncovering the flow of illicit proceeds.

"Cyber cooperation is essential. Countries should work together to trace gambling sites and locations, identify how online scams operate, and track money laundering linked to online gambling," Rezasyah told ANTARA in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said ASEAN could consider establishing a regional cyber center or a dedicated task force involving member states to improve operational coordination against cross-border online gambling.

The proposed body could be called the ASEAN Center or the ASEAN Task Force for Online Gambling. It could coordinate efforts to track gambling activities, exchange intelligence, and trace illicit financial flows, he said.

However, Rezasyah stressed that effective cooperation would require common operating standards, including standardized communication systems and codes, as well as training for personnel involved.

He said law enforcement cooperation among ASEAN countries remained ineffective, often focusing on coordination and information sharing. Differences in national legal systems and policies also posed significant challenges.

"Differences in national laws do not necessarily mean that we cannot conduct joint electronic operations. This needs to be done," he said.

He explained that enforcement operations on the ground would still need to be conducted by authorities in each country, in accordance with their respective jurisdictions and applicable laws.

Rezasyah said stronger cyber cooperation was needed because online gambling operators exploit rapidly evolving technologies and digital infrastructure, while law enforcement agencies often struggle to keep pace with their activities.

He noted that gambling networks could operate across multiple jurisdictions, with servers located overseas or in Indonesia, making it difficult to track offenders and disrupt their operations.

Differences in gambling regulations among ASEAN member states further complicate collective efforts. While some countries permit certain forms of gambling under strict regulations, others take different approaches.

Rezasyah said the issue should be addressed at the highest level of ASEAN decision-making because online gambling affects not only security but also economic and social welfare. He said online gambling could drain household finances, deepen economic vulnerability, and undermine efforts to empower younger generations.

"Online gambling severely drains the country's financial resources and undermines Indonesia's national resilience. We are facing a generation that is becoming increasingly vulnerable and impoverished, and much harder to empower," he said.

Alongside regional cooperation, Rezasyah called for stronger domestic enforcement through closer monitoring of suspicious websites, swift blocking measures, and the detection of sites that change their names or appearances to evade surveillance.

He also urged the government to strengthen oversight of digital infrastructure in accordance with applicable laws to help identify and disrupt online gambling networks more effectively. Indonesia, he said, could not rely solely on ASEAN's response, as domestic efforts also required swift and coordinated action.

"If we already know where the vulnerabilities are at home, we should promote digital literacy. Whatever ASEAN's response may be, we must take enforcement action domestically without delay," he said.

Rezasyah also highlighted the need for comprehensive data on online gambling victims, including their age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. Such information could help authorities identify vulnerable groups and develop targeted prevention programs.

He further urged the government to expand digital literacy education from primary schools to universities so that people could better recognize the risks of online gambling, digital fraud, and the tactics operators use to lure victims.

Related news: Indonesian police, digital ministry step up online safety efforts

Translator: Katriana
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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