Government Oversight Mechanisms To Prevent Social Assistance Recipients From Misusing Funds For Online Gambling In Serang City

Abstract

This study aims to analyze supervision mechanisms as regulations that are intended to prevent recipients of social assistance indicated for online gambling from misusing it by the Serang City Government. The study was conducted using a descriptive qualitative approach with data collected through in-depth interviews with 14 informants (officers from the Social Affairs Office, DTKS data operators, village-level officials and social assistance recipients) as well as documentary analysis of administrative records and regulatory frameworks. The results are that the supervision is carried out through the Integrated Social Welfare Data System (DTKS) and coordinated with PTK in detecting suspicious transactions. While this arrangement of integration with biometric verification has been largely effective against misuse, issues such as low financial literacy of beneficiaries, lack of social accompaniment, obsolete population data, weak inter-agency coordination and low community participation still continue to persist. Grounded on Principal-Agent Theory, Street-Level Bureaucracy and the New Public Service paradigm, this research proposes that effective supervision will require a new approach toward collaborative governance focused on educational empowerment, citizen engagement and multi-stakeholder partnership instead of administrative control. Findings the study concludes that although systemic supervision has improved considerably, long-term effectiveness hinges on reinforcing the human and social aspects of governance in social assistance.