The Pangandaran Police’s efforts to combat online gambling crimes through
restorative justice face structural and conceptual challenges in the digital era. This
normative-qualitative study examines legal frameworks, enforcement strategies,
and socio-economic impacts in Pangandaran Regency. The findings reveal that
restorative justice is inapplicable to online gambling due to unmet material
requirements (e.g., potential social unrest and economic harm) and formal
constraints (severe penalties under the ITE Law). Regulatory gaps, resistance to
non-punitive solutions, and the complex nature of online gambling including its
links to secondary crimes like domestic violence and corruption further hinder
restorative approaches. The research underscores the urgency of legal reforms,
stricter penalties, and enhanced law enforcement capacity in digital forensics.
While restorative justice remains philosophically aligned with local wisdom, its
implementation requires selective adaptation. A holistic strategy integrating legal,
technological, and community-based measures is recommended to mitigate the societal damage caused by online gambling.