The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Indonesia has reported a significant rise in Indonesian nationals moving to Cambodia. Many of these individuals are seeking employment opportunities, particularly in the online gambling industry, which continues to grow rapidly. According to Jakarta Globe’s statistics, it is estimated that approximately 123,000 Indonesian nationals entered Cambodia by September this year. Cambodian authorities further revealed that about 89,000 Indonesians currently hold residence permits in the country.
During a recent press conference, Indonesian Citizen Protection Director Judha Nugraha stated that online gaming operators are attracting many individuals with promises of lucrative jobs. However, these positions often involve managing online scams, raising concerns about ethical practices and safety. Nugraha emphasized the need for a collective effort among stakeholders to address this issue and prevent its spread within Indonesian society.
The rise in Indonesians moving to Cambodia coincides with a growing illegal online gambling market. Within Indonesia, the Online Gambling Task Force estimates that there are around 4 million active online gamblers. Alarmingly, this includes approximately 80,000 children under the age of 10 and 440,000 individuals aged 11 to 20.
The financial scale of online gambling is equally concerning. By FY24, funds from this activity could reach IDR980 trillion ($61.17 billion). In the first three quarters of this year alone, gambling-related transactions in Indonesia amounted to IDR280 trillion ($17.5 billion). A significant portion of these funds flows out to neighboring countries such as Thailand and Cambodia.
Nugraha urged all stakeholders to work together to curb this growing trend. Strengthening regulatory measures and raising public awareness are critical to ensuring the issue does not further harm Indonesian society. Coordinated efforts are essential to address the ethical and economic challenges posed by this booming industry.
