Indonesia (IDN) is truly a unique country in many ways. It has the 4th most populous economy and a booming tourist industry that spans more than 17,500 islands of different sizes. Although the country itself is a top destination for travellers and revellers, the government has banned gambling of any kind in the country. So, playing online poker IDN requires having the right information and insights to get it done correctly.
Fortunately for you, we’ve put together a brief account of how users continue to access online gambling in Indonesia. Read on to learn all about it!
How illegal is gambling in Indonesia?
The first issue we have to understand here is the exact nature of gambling prohibition in the country. As far back as 2012, various government ministries of Indonesia have expressed their intentions of restricting gambling through legislation. So, Ministries of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Social Affairs all have provisions that prohibit gambling of any kind within the country.
However, this hasn’t stopped the gambling-enthusiasts in the population from playing their favourite games. The gambling industry in the country is expected to grow by tens of billions of dollars in the coming years. And poker IDN alone occupies a sizeable chunk of this growth. While underground casinos may have a considerable part in sustaining this culture, the online space is also growing.
Online platforms have more space to operate because internet laws on gambling prohibition are more difficult to enforce. As far as the government goes, this sector comes under the control of the Ministry of Communications and IT. But the limitless internet, as we all know, is a place where blanket bans and restrictions are not easy to implement.
Government efforts to control online Poker IDN
So far, websites and platforms hosted in other countries have been accepting Indonesian players online. Some of these websites are blocked or blacklisted by the IDN authorities, but others still continue to operate. Even if the authorities employ IP blocks to prevent these websites from operating, there are a wide range of tools available to get around these restrictions. As a result, the complete ban of online poker and gambling sites has not been possible in reality.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that it’s legal or permitted. It just means that the web is still a tricky place to enforce blocks and bans when there are so many online alternatives. But it goes without saying that the authorities will continue cracking down on online gambling forums wherever they can.
Future Prospects
Despite the long list of obstacles in the way, gambling platforms continue to grow in Indonesia. Locally hosted websites can attract a lot of traffic and players in a few days, even if they get shut down eventually. On the other hand, platforms hosted in foreign countries continue to be the go-to sources of online gambling for the citizens.
It’s doubtful to expect any leniency from the government authorities at this point. But there’s no doubt that the online platforms will continue to grow if these restrictions continue.
