Riau Islands police step up anti-gambling campaign

Law enforcement authorities in Indonesia’s Riau Islands have launched an outreach effort.

Indonesia.- Police in Indonesia’s Riau Islands are expanding community-focused efforts to discourage gambling.

Officers from Sub-Directorate III Jatanras, under the General Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Riau Islands Police, have taken anti-gambling messages to neighbourhoods as part of a preventive strategy aimed at preserving public order.

The initiative emphasises education and voluntary compliance. During outreach activities, officers displayed banners urging locals to “Stop Judi Konvensional” and highlighted that Article 303 of the Indonesian Criminal Code clearly defines gambling as a punishable offence under national law. Authorities have urged residents to rethink all forms of gambling, both offline and online, and to be aware of the serious consequences associated with betting. Police officials have stressed that the harms of gambling extend far beyond legal violations. 

Senior police figures in the Riau Islands have described the campaign’s humanist approach as a cornerstone of its strategy, prioritising dialogue and awareness-building over solely punitive measures. The goal, they say, is to foster greater legal understanding among residents and encourage voluntary compliance with national law.

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Law enforcement authorities in Indonesia’s Riau Islands have launched an outreach effort. Indonesia.- Police in Indonesia’s Riau Islands are expanding community-focused efforts to discourage gambling. Officers from Sub-Directorate III Jatanras,…