JAKARTA: Gambling promoters are using deceptive tactics to target Indonesian users across Meta platforms, despite company policies and government crackdowns on the illegal practice, an AFP investigation found.
The probe revealed dozens of paid adverts disguised as harmless content to bypass Meta’s ban on gambling promotions in Indonesia. Some posts appear to promote video games or health treatments, such as diabetes remedies, but redirect users to betting websites.
“It’s become really disturbing. I suspect their target is gamers, so children can also see such advertisements,” said Zee, a 32-year-old gamer who saw the ads on Instagram.
Another user, 24-year-old Moli, said she frequently reports such posts, but they continue to reappear. AFP shared nearly two dozen ads with Meta, which were later removed, though the company did not provide comment.
Indonesian authorities say they have removed over 5.7 million gambling-related online posts in the past eight years. Enforcement has intensified, with at least 85 influencers arrested last year for promoting online betting. Penalties include prison terms of up to ten years for promoting gambling, while engaging in it carries up to four years.
Alexander Sabar, director general for digital space supervision at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, said platforms are regularly urged to remove gambling content and warned that repeated violations could lead to account suspensions or even access termination. In October, TikTok’s operating license was temporarily suspended for refusing to provide data on suspected online gambling activities.
Between September and November, AFP found dozens of active gambling ads in the Meta Ad Library. One account ran 49 adverts under titles such as “Pomegranate: The Exotic Red Fruit Rich in Benefits,” but all redirected users to betting websites promising instant wins. The Facebook page behind these ads listed Hanoi as its location.
A forthcoming study from Indonesian research firm Populix showed that 98 percent of social media users in the country have encountered gambling promotions, with 32 per cent eventually trying online gambling and four per cent continuing to gamble.
“The advertisements promised a win or jackpot,” said Populix research manager Nazmi Tamara. Betting content ranges from comments and video overlays to explicit promotion of gambling platforms, said Vivi Zabkie, the firm’s head of policy and society research.
The value of online gambling transactions in Indonesia reached 927 trillion rupiah (approx RM268.83 billion) between 2017 and the first quarter of 2025, with 80 per cent of users being students or low-income individuals, according to the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center. – AFP
