Quote from: EarnOnVictor on September 02, 2025, 06:22:36 PM

You have said it well, but there is more to that. The culture/tradition, the regulations/government policies, economic status of the country, interest of gambling companies in that country, the advertisement, and many more contribute to more or less gambling activities in countries.

Above all, the freedom by the government's policies is a very large one. You can't imagine how restricted most Muslim countries are to gambling compared to the free world.

Gambling is influenced by availability or access, regulatory enforcement, and social/religious norms. These factors shape demand and opportunity. Economic factors, education, the tourism industry, advertising, and crime rates play a significant role, but often act as catalysts or side effects, not the sole cause.

In order of importance, the following factors contribute to low gambling rates (based on my observations in my country, Indonesia):
1. Government policy and enforcement (legal access). Gambling, both offline and online, is illegal, with penalties ranging from 4 to 10 years in prison. For online gambling, there are additional penalties under the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.
2. Religion and cultural norms (societal stigma). In my predominantly Muslim country, gambling is considered haram and forbidden by God, according to Islamic law. Societal norms condemn gambling because it is associated with criminal activity.
3. Availability and access to the gambling industry. Strict regulations reduce legal forms, but digitalization increases illegal forms (online gambling). Gambling Emergency in Indonesia
4. Demographic conditions, a high youth population, and high internet access mean a market for online gambling, especially in urban areas with minimal social control.
5. Economic inequality and the hedonistic lifestyles of social media influencers are driving low-income residents to try their luck at gambling.
6. Low levels of ignorance and financial literacy. Many don't understand probability or the "house always wins" system. This also makes people more vulnerable to the promises of online gambling advertising.

The state of gambling (especially in Indonesia) cannot be understood solely as an internal problem (religion, culture, law), but must be viewed as part of an international criminal economy. Prohibition but weak law enforcement creates an officially low figure, while in practice, the figure is high. Many countries serve as mere consumption areas for global gambling syndicates, not producers.