Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has officially restricted domestic access to Polymarket. Regulators determined that the decentralized platform operates essentially as an unauthorized online gambling service underneath the structural appearance of a digital prediction market.
The enforcement action forms part of a wider, synchronized state strategy to systematically purge speculative electronic betting systems from the country’s internet ecosystem.
Categorized as Monetary Betting
A prediction market functions as an online hub where users buy and sell digital contracts pegged to the outcomes of future real-world events, such as democratic elections, macroeconomic trends, or international sporting events, typically leveraging blockchain architecture and crypto assets.
However, after a thorough review, Indonesian officials clarified that Polymarket operates in practice as a direct interface for high-stakes monetary wagering on uncertain events. Because Indonesian law firmly prohibits any variation of digital sports betting or commercial chance games, the application has been classified straight under illegal gambling.
Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision, reiterated the state’s zero-tolerance enforcement stance across all digital operations:
“The government will not allow any form of online gambling in Indonesia. Polymarket’s activities involve betting and speculation on uncertain events, which violates Indonesian law.”
Implementing Comprehensive Access Controls
To guarantee full operational containment, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication confirmed it has tracked down and restricted several prominent social media accounts and digital channels affiliated with Polymarket. Technical teams are also scanning the local web to block incoming traffic servicing similar crypto-based prediction platforms before they capture a larger user base among younger demographics.
Director General Sabar noted that Indonesia’s regulatory crackdown aligns closely with absolute bans already executed across diverse international jurisdictions, including Singapore, Brazil, and India, alongside strict statutory restrictions imposed by authorities in Japan, China, Thailand, and Taiwan.
The Ministry has issued an explicit public warning directing citizens to immediately halt all participation in speculative digital betting games and unapproved crypto transactions. Law enforcement agencies have reminded the public that these platforms carry extreme financial dangers and cannot be treated as harmless trading software.
To maintain long-term compliance, the Ministry is actively collaborating with the Indonesian National Police to review alternative operators and ensure the domestic digital space remains safe, healthy, and highly productive.
