Supporting Kasino Legalization, Economist: Indonesia's Debt Is Lunar

Public discussion with the title 'Legalization of Kasino in Indonesia: Between Legal Certainty, Social Challenges, and Economic Opportunities' held by Iwakum in Jakarta, Saturday, June 7. (Photo: RizkyVOI)

JAKARTA - Business Economist and Observer, Benny Batara Hutabarat or Bennix assessed that if the government decides to legalize gambling practices in the form of casinos, there will be a positive impact, namely increasing non-tax state revenue (PNBP) which can be used to pay off Indonesia's debt.

It is known that the discourse on legalizing casinos in Indonesia had appeared in the Commission XI meeting of the DPR RI when discussing new PNBP objects that could be maximized.

"If we legalize casino gambling, Indonesia's debt is paid off," said Bennix in a public discussion entitled 'Legalization of Kasino in Indonesia: Between Legal Certainty, Social Challenges, and Economic Opportunities' held by Iwakum in Jakarta, Saturday, June 7.

According to him, online gambling with casino gambling has different typology. This is because casinos need a place that provides various types of betting games.

"If we legalize what is called casino gambling, it must be different from gambling in Cambodia, Cambodian gambling is online gambling, from pedicab drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers have cellphones, they can gamble online but if there is a physical gambling casino," he said.

Bennix explained that the legalization of casinos in Indonesia has the potential to generate revenue of up to thousands of trillions of rupiah, even enough to pay off interest on state debt which will reach IDR 550 trillion by 2025.

Singapore, last year's revenue from the casino sector reached IDR 109 trillion and is projected to increase to IDR 150 trillion this year.

"Only from gambling in the resort concept. Gambling outside the resort concept is lottery gambling. SDSB, number. That's around Rp200 trillion. Okay, that's not what we play. It's local residents who play. But from there there there is a potential of Rp 350 trillion," said Bennix.

In addition, state revenues obtained from legalization of casinos will come from various lines. For example, purchasing plane tickets, lodging, and so on.

This has also happened in other countries that have legalized casinos such as China, Singapore, and Malaysia.

"The Muslim effect that we calculate to that person is even outside the gambling itself," said Bennix.