Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi has announced plans for an integrated task force to eradicate online gambling, aiming for set-up within the coming week. 

There have been several efforts in Indonesia in recent years to clamp down on gambling, highlighted in January when, in only half a year Setiadi had overseen the blocking of almost one million forms of gambling in the country. 

The integrated task force, according to the Minister, will aim to solve the problem of illegal online gambling by bringing closer coordination between ministries and institutions. 

The Ministry of Communication and Information will be tasked with removing online gambling sites, while the enforcement aspect will be carried out by related institutions and law enforcement officials. 

Setiadi stated: "This week we will decide on steps to form an integrated task force in the context of eradicating online gambling. 

"This gambling is illegal by law, so strengthening measures (to eradicate it) need to be carried out effectively. 

"The Ministry of Communication and Information will focus on withdrawing and removing (take down) online gambling sites, while the enforcement aspect will be handed over to law enforcement officials.” 

In other legal and regulatory news, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has reported on its actions against illegal gambling during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

In total, 18 offshore services were found in the investigation to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.