Indonesia Blocks Polymarket Amid Online Betting Crackdown

Indonesia blocked Polymarket after authorities classified the prediction platform as online gambling under national law.
The nationwide block aligns with restrictions in other countries, including Brazil and Argentina, as regulators increase scrutiny over whether prediction markets constitute unlicensed gambling operations.

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Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital has blocked access to the crypto-native prediction market platform Polymarket as authorities intensify a broader crackdown on online betting in the country, where gambling is illegal under national law.

Director General of Digital Space Supervision Alexander Sabar said in a statement on Friday that Polymarket's activities involve "betting and speculation on uncertain outcomes," placing the platform in violation of Indonesian law. The ministry said it has also begun tracing all social media accounts affiliated with Polymarket to ensure comprehensive access restrictions.

According to the statement, the ministry is also planning to block access to similar services suspected of facilitating prediction market practices. The move aims to protect the public, particularly younger digital users, from financial losses and regulatory violations, the ministry said.

Polymarket gained traction in Indonesia last week after users opened contracts predicting when President Prabowo Subianto would be “out as president,” despite his current term running through 2029, Reuters reported on Monday. The market launched on May 21, one day after Prabowo unveiled plans to centralize control of key commodity exports, including coal and palm oil, sectors closely watched by global investors.

The Block reached out to Polymarket for comment.

Global crackdown

The development adds Indonesia to a growing list of jurisdictions restricting Polymarket and rival event-contract platforms.

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Brazil moved against Polymarket and Kalshi in April after regulators said the platforms failed to comply with local derivatives trading rules and raised concerns tied to investor protection and market integrity. Finance Minister Dario Durigan said roughly 28 betting platforms were banned as part of a wider campaign targeting online gambling activity.

Argentina also ordered a nationwide restriction on Polymarket in March after a Buenos Aires court directed internet service providers, Google, and Apple to block access to the platform. Authorities alleged the site operated as an unlicensed betting system without sufficient identity and age verification controls.

In the United States, prediction markets remain under active legal scrutiny despite a more permissive federal stance toward event contracts. On May 22, a Ninth Circuit panel rejected bids by Kalshi and Polymarket to halt gambling-related enforcement actions in Nevada and Washington, where state authorities argue sports-event contracts amount to unlicensed gambling products.

The regulatory pressure comes as Polymarket continues expanding internationally, including efforts tied to the Japanese market, where authorities have imposed restrictions on political betting and related prediction contracts under national law.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

90%

22.5%

Yes No

85%

44.5%

Yes No

$218k Vol.

🔥$67k today

Ends in 1 month

View Polymarket

Odds are provided for informational purposes by our partner, Polymarket, and are subject to change. The Block is not a prediction market operator and is not responsible for any financial losses.

Brian Danga

Brian Danga is a reporter based in Nairobi, Kenya. Before joining The Block, Brian reported on digital assets at outlets including crypto.news and DailyCoin, and also worked on the venture side at Elevate Ventures. You can get in touch with Brian on Telegram (@brayandanga) or 𝕏 (@DangaWrites) or email him at bdanga@theblock.co.

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