The Fulfilment of Family Maintenance Obligations in the Context of Online Gambling in Aceh: An Analysis of Socio-Economic Impacts and Gampong-Level Responses

Abstract

The development of online gambling in Aceh has become not merely an issue of violations of law and religious norms, but also a problem affecting the fulfilment of family maintenance obligations and household economic resilience. The diversion of a husband's income to online gambling activities may undermine his ability to provide for the needs of his wife and children, trigger domestic conflicts, and generate social consequences that extend to the gampong community. This study aims to analyse the socio-economic impacts of neglecting family maintenance obligations due to online gambling on households and the gampong community, as well as to examine the role of gampong institutions and their mechanisms for addressing these issues. This research employs an empirical juridical method, incorporating statutory, conceptual, and sociological approaches. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with two judges and eight community leaders, field observations, and literature reviews conducted in West Aceh Regency and Pidie Regency. The findings reveal that the neglect of family maintenance obligations resulting from online gambling reduces households' capacity to meet essential needs, including food, education, healthcare, and other basic necessities. It also contributes to household indebtedness, domestic conflicts, marital tensions, and declining child welfare. These impacts extend to the gampong community through increased dependence of affected families on assistance from relatives and community members, as well as reduced social participation among affected households. Gampong institutions respond to these problems through summoning the parties involved, deliberative settlement, religious counselling, guidance and supervision, engagement of extended family members, and community-based social monitoring. These mechanisms are predominantly persuasive and restorative in nature. However, their implementation faces several obstacles, including the concealed nature of online gambling activities, difficulties in detecting such conduct, the limited authority of gampong institutions, and the absence of specific mechanisms for addressing affected families. This study contributes to the development of family law scholarship by integrating the issues of family maintenance obligations, online gambling, socio-economic impacts, and gampong institutional responses. It also provides an empirical foundation for strengthening a community-based family protection model in Aceh.