International relations expert and President University lecturer Teuku Rezasyah has called for stronger cyber cooperation among ASEAN member states. According to Antara, he said greater cooperation is needed to combat cross-border online gambling.
Rezasyah proposed the creation of an ASEAN-level cyber center or dedicated task force focused on online gambling. The body could help member states track gambling operations, exchange intelligence and trace illicit financial flows linked to gambling and money laundering.
He said any regional framework would require common operating standards, including standardized communication systems and codes, alongside appropriate training for personnel.
Rezasyah acknowledged that law enforcement cooperation between ASEAN countries remains challenging because of differences in national legal systems and gambling policies. However, he argued that these differences should not prevent joint electronic operations, while physical enforcement would remain under the jurisdiction of authorities in each country.
Cross-border digital infrastructure presents a further challenge, with gambling networks able to operate across multiple jurisdictions and use servers located either overseas or domestically.
Rezasyah argued that online gambling should receive greater attention at the ASEAN level because its effects extend beyond law enforcement to economic and social welfare.
Within Indonesia, he called for closer monitoring of suspicious websites, faster blocking measures and stronger oversight of digital infrastructure. He also stressed that Indonesia should continue its own enforcement efforts regardless of the progress of regional cooperation.
Rezasyah additionally recommended collecting more detailed information on gambling victims, including their age and socioeconomic backgrounds, to identify vulnerable groups.
He also called for digital literacy education to be expanded from primary schools through universities, helping young people recognise the risks of online gambling, digital fraud and tactics used by operators to attract users.
Different gambling laws across ASEAN remain a challenge for regional enforcement
