Govt flags trend of Indonesians working as online gambling operators
The Ministry of Manpower’s Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) has brought to attention the growing phenomenon of Indonesian migrant workers operating online gambling in Cambodia, local media has reported. Commissioner General Raja Sinambela, who heads the Director of Cyber Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers, said that the promise of high wages has caused many to take the risk of working in Cambodia.
This is despite Indonesia and Cambodia not having a mutual agreement for the placement of migrant workers. It is being noted that Cambodia’s relaxed approach to allow online gambling industry has given rise to illegal job opportunities for Indonesians. Speaking at the Nahdlatul Ulama headquarters, Raja emphasised how a single worker often returns only to bring several more. He said, “Working as an online gambling operator seems to be a trend.”
Job vacancies taken down
Sinambela has said that he has attempted to block and take down postings of vacancies by online gambling operators in Cambodia, but new ones continue to emerge. He noted that a few Facebook groups, which have hundreds of thousands of members, post job vacancies frequently in Cambodia. “It is very difficult, very modern these days,” he said.
This is problematic since illegal migrant workers in Cambodia more often than not fall victim to human trafficking. It was previously noted by Minister of P2MI Abdul Kadir Karding that human trafficking victims in Myanmar and Cambodia are predominantly educated individuals. He further noted that the illegal job offers were posted on social media.
Indonesia’s continued crackdown on illegal gambling
Indonesia continues its strict crackdown on illegal gambling, which is banned for both citizens and foreigners. Those caught gambling can face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 25 million rupiah. Authorities have linked gambling addiction to rising crime and an increase in high-interest loans.
Last month, The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) took down over 1.3 million pieces of digital content linked to gambling and pornography between 20 October 2024 and 8 March 2025. Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision, credited the Indonesian public for this achievement and their active role in reporting such content through the aduankonten.id portal. In February, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that the government will introduce stricter regulations to tackle online gambling. The move aims to strengthen existing measures and the administration’s commitment to intensifying efforts against illegal gambling activities.
