Jakarta, Nov. 4 -- Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra called on religious leaders and clerics to warn residents about the dangers of online gambling in their sermons.

"I believe dissemination (about the online gambling issue) must involve clerics and religious leaders," Mahendra stated after an agenda at the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) office here on Tuesday.

The top minister opined that despite being a "real issue" in society, the dangers of online gambling are seldom brought up in religious sermons, with preachers opting to speak about "heaven and hell" instead.

"For the last five years, I have never heard any sermon about online gambling...