Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto has warned that online gambling poses a serious threat to Indonesia’s economy and social stability, estimating national losses at around $8 billion a year.

Speaking at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) held at the Hwabaek International Convention Centre (HICO) in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Saturday, Prabowo said illicit financial outflows from online gambling continue to weaken Indonesia’s economic resilience.

“We calculate that we lose around $8 billion every year solely due to outflows from online gambling,” Prabowo said in an official broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat on Sunday.

He stressed that the damage extends beyond financial losses, warning that online gambling also erodes social and moral stability. Prabowo called on APEC member economies to strengthen international cooperation in tackling transnational crimes such as online gambling, drug trafficking, and cross-border corruption.

Indonesia, he said, needs cooperation in eradicating transnational crimes because it faces many challenges -- from illegal smuggling and corruption to narcotics trafficking -- all of which threaten Indonesian societies.

Prabowo also underscored the importance of global solidarity in digital security and economic protection, stressing that APEC members must work together to prevent cyber and financial systems from being exploited by criminal networks.

He urged member countries to enhance technological capacity, education, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to strengthen the region’s long-term resilience.

“That is why we want to participate in advancing APEC’s capabilities in technology,” he said. “We also aim to strengthen SMEs and improve healthcare systems to anticipate our demographic bonus.”

Prabowo’s remarks highlight Indonesia’s growing commitment to fighting online gambling and digital crime, both domestically and through multilateral platforms like APEC. The government, he said, remains focused on building a more secure digital economy while reinforcing Indonesia’s leadership role in global efforts against transnational crime.