Civil law courts in Indonesia are reporting that online gambling addiction continues to be a significant factor in the rising divorce rates among couples, despite efforts by some to conceal the true reasons behind their marital breakdowns. Media reports indicate rising divorce statistics in various regions, and religious courts attribute these increases to gambling issues, according to Pikiran Rakyat.
Ahmad Yani, a judge in Cianjur Regency, West Java, stated, “Nowadays, people are neatly packaging references to their spouse’s online gambling problems and hiding them in lawsuits.”
Similar claims have emerged from several provinces across the country over the past year, with many identifying online gambling as the predominant cause of divorce in their jurisdictions.
Although initial figures suggested a decline in reported cases of divorce linked directly to online gambling, officials in Cianjur highlight a more complex reality. They emphasize that closer examination reveals underlying issues tied to gambling addiction.
The Cianjur Religious Court reported a notable increase in divorce filings in the first week of July, compared to the same period last year. In 2022, the court processed 4,805 divorce cases, with 102 citing online gambling as the central reason. So far in 2026, 2,038 cases have been filed in the first half of the year, less than half of last year’s total. Typically, divorce filings peak in August or September, but this year's surge has started earlier, according to the court’s observations.
Despite attempts by couples to mask the reality of their situations, gambling remains a predominant source of domestic strife. Yani explained, “The reasons written in the draft lawsuit were often disguised as arguments about ‘a lack of income’ or the husband’s ‘irresponsible attitude.’” Many women, motivated by “psychological factors or fear of being shamed,” often transform concerns about their husbands’ gambling into secondary issues in legal documents. However, once cases are examined, judges frequently conclude that gambling addiction is a critical driver.
In West Java, online gambling rates are reportedly higher than the national average. This has prompted complaints from officials in Cianjur and beyond. The Indonesian anti-money laundering agency, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, conducted an investigation at the Cianjur Religious Court in 2024, revealing significant financial losses associated with gambling. Many households affected by gambling addiction are coping with severe financial hardships, ranging from selling vehicles to mortgaging properties.
Yani expressed concern, stating, “We don’t expect the current wave of divorces to subside.” In some regions of Indonesia, religious courts may impose corporal punishment on convicted gamblers. Recently, a court in Aceh directed an official to administer five lashes with a cane to a gambler as punishment.
