Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences

Muhammad Ali Nurhidayatullah; Agus Raharjo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13

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Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences

Muhammad Ali Nurhidayatullah^*

, Agus Raharjo

Published in International Journal of Law and Society (Volume 9, Issue 4)

Received: 12 September 2026 Accepted: 23 September 2026 Published: 23 October 2026

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Abstract

Online gambling is a rapidly growing global phenomenon affecting countries across the world and creating complex legal, social, economic, and technological challenges. However, each nation adopts different domestic policies that shape how it regulates, monitors, and enforces online gambling laws, resulting in regulatory fragmentation and difficulties in addressing cross-border gambling activities. This study aims to develop an ideal legal reconstruction framework for the future criminalization of online gambling amid divergent domestic policies. This research uses a normative legal method with legislative, conceptual, and comparative approaches to examine existing regulations, legal principles, and comparative practices concerning online gambling criminalization. The results indicate that an ideal legal reconstruction to address online gambling in Indonesia must encompass three strategic dimensions. First, reform substantive criminal law by establishing primary and additional penalties for both organizers and individual perpetrators of online gambling, including classifying offences by scale small, medium, and large imposing fines proportionate to the offender’s income, and applying supplementary sanctions such as fines and community service. Second, harmonization of domestic policies through international cooperation, extraterritorial enforcement, and alignment of national online gambling regulations to strengthen cross-border legal enforcement. Third, adoption of technological approaches in law enforcement through digital monitoring, private-sector involvement in blocking illegal gambling sites, and AI-based detection of suspicious transactions. These dimensions provide an integrated framework for strengthening Indonesia’s legal response to the evolving challenges of online gambling.

Published in	International Journal of Law and Society (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13
Page(s)	466-477
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Criminalization, Domestic Policy, Legal Reconstruction, Law Enforcement, Online Gambling

References

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APA Style

Nurhidayatullah, M. A., Raharjo, A. (2026). Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences. International Journal of Law and Society, 9(4), 466-477. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13

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ACS Style

Nurhidayatullah, M. A.; Raharjo, A. Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences. Int. J. Law Soc. 2026, 9(4), 466-477. doi: 10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13

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AMA Style

Nurhidayatullah MA, Raharjo A. Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences. Int J Law Soc. 2026;9(4):466-477. doi: 10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13,
  author = {Muhammad Ali Nurhidayatullah and Agus Raharjo},
  title = {Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences},
  journal = {International Journal of Law and Society},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {466-477},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijls.20260904.13},
  abstract = {Online gambling is a rapidly growing global phenomenon affecting countries across the world and creating complex legal, social, economic, and technological challenges. However, each nation adopts different domestic policies that shape how it regulates, monitors, and enforces online gambling laws, resulting in regulatory fragmentation and difficulties in addressing cross-border gambling activities. This study aims to develop an ideal legal reconstruction framework for the future criminalization of online gambling amid divergent domestic policies. This research uses a normative legal method with legislative, conceptual, and comparative approaches to examine existing regulations, legal principles, and comparative practices concerning online gambling criminalization. The results indicate that an ideal legal reconstruction to address online gambling in Indonesia must encompass three strategic dimensions. First, reform substantive criminal law by establishing primary and additional penalties for both organizers and individual perpetrators of online gambling, including classifying offences by scale small, medium, and large imposing fines proportionate to the offender’s income, and applying supplementary sanctions such as fines and community service. Second, harmonization of domestic policies through international cooperation, extraterritorial enforcement, and alignment of national online gambling regulations to strengthen cross-border legal enforcement. Third, adoption of technological approaches in law enforcement through digital monitoring, private-sector involvement in blocking illegal gambling sites, and AI-based detection of suspicious transactions. These dimensions provide an integrated framework for strengthening Indonesia’s legal response to the evolving challenges of online gambling.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences
AU  - Muhammad Ali Nurhidayatullah
AU  - Agus Raharjo
Y1  - 2026/10/23
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13
T2  - International Journal of Law and Society
JF  - International Journal of Law and Society
JO  - International Journal of Law and Society
SP  - 466
EP  - 477
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-1908
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13
AB  - Online gambling is a rapidly growing global phenomenon affecting countries across the world and creating complex legal, social, economic, and technological challenges. However, each nation adopts different domestic policies that shape how it regulates, monitors, and enforces online gambling laws, resulting in regulatory fragmentation and difficulties in addressing cross-border gambling activities. This study aims to develop an ideal legal reconstruction framework for the future criminalization of online gambling amid divergent domestic policies. This research uses a normative legal method with legislative, conceptual, and comparative approaches to examine existing regulations, legal principles, and comparative practices concerning online gambling criminalization. The results indicate that an ideal legal reconstruction to address online gambling in Indonesia must encompass three strategic dimensions. First, reform substantive criminal law by establishing primary and additional penalties for both organizers and individual perpetrators of online gambling, including classifying offences by scale small, medium, and large imposing fines proportionate to the offender’s income, and applying supplementary sanctions such as fines and community service. Second, harmonization of domestic policies through international cooperation, extraterritorial enforcement, and alignment of national online gambling regulations to strengthen cross-border legal enforcement. Third, adoption of technological approaches in law enforcement through digital monitoring, private-sector involvement in blocking illegal gambling sites, and AI-based detection of suspicious transactions. These dimensions provide an integrated framework for strengthening Indonesia’s legal response to the evolving challenges of online gambling.
VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Muhammad Ali Nurhidayatullah

Faculty of Law, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0008-8430-420X
Agus Raharjo

Faculty of Law, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8840-2327

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APA Style

Nurhidayatullah, M. A., Raharjo, A. (2026). Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences. International Journal of Law and Society, 9(4), 466-477. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13

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ACS Style

Nurhidayatullah, M. A.; Raharjo, A. Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences. Int. J. Law Soc. 2026, 9(4), 466-477. doi: 10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13

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AMA Style

Nurhidayatullah MA, Raharjo A. Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences. Int J Law Soc. 2026;9(4):466-477. doi: 10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13,
  author = {Muhammad Ali Nurhidayatullah and Agus Raharjo},
  title = {Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences},
  journal = {International Journal of Law and Society},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {466-477},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijls.20260904.13},
  abstract = {Online gambling is a rapidly growing global phenomenon affecting countries across the world and creating complex legal, social, economic, and technological challenges. However, each nation adopts different domestic policies that shape how it regulates, monitors, and enforces online gambling laws, resulting in regulatory fragmentation and difficulties in addressing cross-border gambling activities. This study aims to develop an ideal legal reconstruction framework for the future criminalization of online gambling amid divergent domestic policies. This research uses a normative legal method with legislative, conceptual, and comparative approaches to examine existing regulations, legal principles, and comparative practices concerning online gambling criminalization. The results indicate that an ideal legal reconstruction to address online gambling in Indonesia must encompass three strategic dimensions. First, reform substantive criminal law by establishing primary and additional penalties for both organizers and individual perpetrators of online gambling, including classifying offences by scale small, medium, and large imposing fines proportionate to the offender’s income, and applying supplementary sanctions such as fines and community service. Second, harmonization of domestic policies through international cooperation, extraterritorial enforcement, and alignment of national online gambling regulations to strengthen cross-border legal enforcement. Third, adoption of technological approaches in law enforcement through digital monitoring, private-sector involvement in blocking illegal gambling sites, and AI-based detection of suspicious transactions. These dimensions provide an integrated framework for strengthening Indonesia’s legal response to the evolving challenges of online gambling.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Legal Reconstruction as a Policy Bridge: Advancing Criminalization of Online Gambling Amid National Differences
AU  - Muhammad Ali Nurhidayatullah
AU  - Agus Raharjo
Y1  - 2026/10/23
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13
T2  - International Journal of Law and Society
JF  - International Journal of Law and Society
JO  - International Journal of Law and Society
SP  - 466
EP  - 477
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-1908
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20260904.13
AB  - Online gambling is a rapidly growing global phenomenon affecting countries across the world and creating complex legal, social, economic, and technological challenges. However, each nation adopts different domestic policies that shape how it regulates, monitors, and enforces online gambling laws, resulting in regulatory fragmentation and difficulties in addressing cross-border gambling activities. This study aims to develop an ideal legal reconstruction framework for the future criminalization of online gambling amid divergent domestic policies. This research uses a normative legal method with legislative, conceptual, and comparative approaches to examine existing regulations, legal principles, and comparative practices concerning online gambling criminalization. The results indicate that an ideal legal reconstruction to address online gambling in Indonesia must encompass three strategic dimensions. First, reform substantive criminal law by establishing primary and additional penalties for both organizers and individual perpetrators of online gambling, including classifying offences by scale small, medium, and large imposing fines proportionate to the offender’s income, and applying supplementary sanctions such as fines and community service. Second, harmonization of domestic policies through international cooperation, extraterritorial enforcement, and alignment of national online gambling regulations to strengthen cross-border legal enforcement. Third, adoption of technological approaches in law enforcement through digital monitoring, private-sector involvement in blocking illegal gambling sites, and AI-based detection of suspicious transactions. These dimensions provide an integrated framework for strengthening Indonesia’s legal response to the evolving challenges of online gambling.
VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download