All forms of gambling, including online and land-based, are illegal and strictly prohibited for both locals and foreigners. Enforcement is active and penalties are severe.
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Regulatory AuthorityMinistry of Communication and Digital Affairs
License CostVaries
Regulation by Activity Type
Casinos
Prohibited
Online Casinos
Prohibited
Betting
Prohibited
Online Betting
Prohibited
Lotteries
Prohibited
Poker
Prohibited
Highlights
All forms of gambling, including casinos and lotteries, are strictly prohibited for both locals and foreigners in Indonesia.
There is no licensing regime for gambling operators; all gambling activities are illegal and unregulated.
Online gambling is a major enforcement focus, with nearly one million websites blocked and new regulations planned for 2025.
Violations can lead to severe penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and, in Aceh, public flogging.
The prohibition is rooted in Islamic law and strong religious opposition, shaping national policy and enforcement.
Enforcement is coordinated across ministries, police, and prosecutors, and includes AI monitoring and international cooperation.
Despite strict laws, illegal gambling persists, prompting ongoing government crackdowns and plans for even stricter regulation.
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Legislation
Primary Legislation
Indonesia maintains a strict prohibition on all forms of gambling, grounded in both religious and social principles. The country’s core legal framework for gambling is built upon several key statutes:
Indonesian Penal Code (Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana, KUHP): The Penal Code explicitly criminalizes a wide range of gambling activities, including organizing, facilitating, or participating in gambling, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.
Law No. 7 of 1974 on the Control of Gambling (Undang-Undang No. 7 Tahun 1974): This law reinforces the prohibition established in the Penal Code, providing a comprehensive ban on gambling and empowering authorities to take action against any gambling-related activities.
Law No. 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE Law), as amended by Law No. 19 of 2016 and Law No. 1 of 2024: The ITE Law extends the prohibition to online gambling, criminalizing the use of electronic systems and digital platforms for gambling purposes. The law also mandates the removal and blocking of gambling-related content on the internet.
Government Regulations (Peraturan Pemerintah, PP): The government issues specific regulations to further detail and enforce the prohibitions, particularly in response to the rise of online gambling. New government regulations are being prepared to strengthen and clarify enforcement measures against online gambling.
These laws collectively create a comprehensive legal structure that strictly outlaws all forms of gambling—both land-based and online—for both Indonesian citizens and foreigners.
Regulatory Authority
Indonesia does not have a dedicated gambling regulatory body, as all gambling is prohibited. Oversight and enforcement are conducted through coordinated efforts among several government institutions:
Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs: Leads the monitoring, detection, and blocking of online gambling content and websites, including the use of artificial intelligence and cyber-patrols to enforce digital prohibitions.
National Police (Polri): Responsible for investigating and prosecuting gambling offenses, including both traditional and online activities.
Attorney General’s Office: Handles prosecution and legal proceedings related to gambling offenses.
Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK): Monitors financial transactions to detect and prevent money flows related to gambling activities.
These authorities operate collaboratively, with recent government directives emphasizing stricter enforcement, inter-agency cooperation, and the introduction of new regulations to address evolving challenges, especially in the digital sphere.
License Types
Gambling Licensing System in Indonesia
Indonesia does not operate a licensing system for gambling activities. All forms of gambling—land-based and online, including casinos, sports betting, lotteries, and other games of chance—are strictly prohibited for both locals and foreigners. There are no legal avenues for operators to obtain licenses for gambling activities within the country.
Types of Licenses Available
No licenses are available for any gambling activities in Indonesia.
There are no distinctions or categories for different gambling verticals (e.g., casino, sports betting, lottery) because all such activities are banned.
Application Process
There is no application process for gambling licenses, as the legal framework does not permit the licensing of gambling operators.
No government department or regulatory authority accepts or processes gambling license applications.
Duration, Renewal, and Eligibility
As no licenses are issued, there are no provisions for license duration, renewal, or eligibility criteria for gambling operators.
Licensing Costs and Financial Requirements
No official or unofficial fees, deposits, or financial guarantees are stipulated for gambling licenses, as such licenses do not exist.
Key Requirements for Obtaining and Maintaining Licenses
There are no requirements or ongoing compliance obligations for gambling operators, since no legal licensing regime exists.
Operating any form of gambling, whether with or without a license, is illegal and subject to severe penalties.
Summary Table: Gambling Licensing in Indonesia
Aspect
Status in Indonesia
Types of Licenses
None available
Application Process
Not applicable
Duration/Renewal
Not applicable
Eligibility
Not applicable
Costs/Fees
Not applicable
Key Requirements
Not applicable
Note: Indonesia’s government is actively intensifying its efforts to combat illegal online gambling, including blocking websites, tracing payment flows, and coordinating enforcement actions. There are ongoing discussions about stricter regulations to address online gambling, but these measures focus on prohibition and enforcement rather than the creation of a licensing regime.
Gambling Tax
Tax Rates for Gambling Operators
There are no official tax rates for gambling operators in Indonesia. All forms of gambling, including both land-based and online operations, are strictly prohibited under Indonesian law. As a result, there is no legal framework that sets out tax rates for gambling businesses, whether based on gross gaming revenue (GGR), turnover, or any other basis.
Basis for Taxation
Since gambling operations are illegal, there is no recognized or regulated basis for taxation such as GGR, turnover, or net profit for gambling operators.
Any gambling-related income is considered illegal, and thus not subject to a specific gambling tax regime.
Tax Reporting and Payment Requirements
There are no official tax reporting or payment procedures for gambling operators, as the operation of such businesses is not permitted in Indonesia.
Individuals are technically required to report all sources of income, including any gambling winnings, under general income tax law. However, this applies to personal income, not to operators, and there are no specific provisions or procedures for gambling operator tax filings.
Tax Incentives, Exemptions, or Special Provisions
No tax incentives, exemptions, or special provisions exist for gambling operators, since all gambling activities are banned and unregulated.
There are no legal mechanisms for tax relief or special treatment for gambling-related businesses.
Summary Table: Gambling Operator Taxation in Indonesia
Aspect
Status in Indonesia
Official tax rates for operators
None (all gambling is prohibited)
Taxation basis (GGR, turnover, etc.)
Not applicable
Reporting/payment procedures
Not applicable
Tax incentives/exemptions
Not applicable
Prohibited Individuals
Age Restrictions and Identification Requirements
Indonesia enforces a strict prohibition on all forms of gambling, making age restrictions effectively moot in the context of legal gambling operations. There are no legal gambling venues or platforms where age verification or identification checks for gambling participation are required or implemented. Any individual, regardless of age, found participating in gambling activities is subject to legal penalties. In regions with stricter enforcement, such as Aceh, even minors can face severe consequences, including public punishment. The government has also highlighted the need to protect children online by working with social media platforms to block gambling content and by integrating child protection governance in digital systems.
Prohibited Activities and Game Restrictions
All forms of gambling—land-based and online—are strictly prohibited for both Indonesian citizens and foreigners.
This ban covers casinos, sports betting, lotteries, poker, slot machines, and any other game of chance or skill involving monetary stakes.
There are no exceptions for private clubs, cruise ships, or licensed venues; the prohibition is nationwide and comprehensive.
In certain provinces, such as Aceh, enforcement includes public flogging for gambling offenses, reflecting the influence of Sharia law.
The only exception is for certain government-sanctioned free lotteries, but these are extremely limited and do not constitute commercial gambling.
Advertising and Marketing Limitations
All advertising and marketing of gambling services is strictly forbidden in Indonesia.
The government actively monitors and blocks digital content, including ads and promotional materials, related to gambling on websites, social media, and other online platforms.
Social media companies and digital platforms are required to promptly remove gambling-related content to prevent exposure, especially to minors.
Authorities have blocked nearly one million gambling websites and digital items, including advertisements, as part of ongoing enforcement efforts.
Any attempt to promote, facilitate, or disseminate information about gambling is considered a criminal offense and is subject to severe penalties.
Responsible Gambling Requirements and Player Protection Measures
There are no formal responsible gambling programs or harm minimization requirements, as all gambling is illegal and the regulatory focus is on eradication rather than regulation.
The government’s primary player protection measure is the complete prohibition of gambling and the aggressive blocking of access to gambling websites and applications.
Special cyber-patrols and artificial intelligence systems are used to detect, block, and remove illegal gambling content and platforms.
Financial institutions are required to monitor and block payment transactions related to gambling activities.
Public awareness campaigns focus on the dangers of gambling, especially online gambling, and emphasize its social and economic harms.
There is a strong emphasis on protecting children and vulnerable groups from exposure to gambling content online.
Geographic and Location Restrictions
Gambling is banned throughout the entire territory of Indonesia, with no legal venues or designated gambling zones.
There are no legal land-based casinos, betting shops, or gaming halls anywhere in the country.
Online gambling platforms are also prohibited and are subject to continuous blocking and enforcement actions, regardless of where the servers are located.
Enforcement is particularly strict in provinces governed under Sharia law, such as Aceh, where punishments for gambling can include public flogging.
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Timeline
Year/Date
Event
1953
Indonesia enacts Penal Code Article 303, criminalizing most forms of gambling nationwide.
1974
Government issues Law No. 7/1974 on the Control of Gambling, reinforcing the prohibition and introducing stricter penalties.
2008
Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE Law) No. 11/2008 is enacted, explicitly banning online gambling activities and content.
2012
Authorities announce a nationwide crackdown on online gambling, including the formation of initial multi-agency efforts to combat illegal betting during major sporting events.
2018
Government intensifies digital enforcement, blocking over 500,000 gambling websites as part of a sustained campaign against online gambling.
2023
Indonesia’s government further ramps up efforts, blocking 380,000 online gambling sites in October and deploying artificial intelligence for digital surveillance and enforcement.
2024
Plans announced to establish a formal multi-agency task force to combat online gambling, involving Kominfo, the Financial Services Authority, and police, with enhanced international cooperation.
2025
President Prabowo Subianto directs the imminent introduction of new, stricter government regulations specifically targeting online gambling, marking a significant escalation in regulatory measures.
Requirements
Software Certification and Technical Standards Requirements
There are no official technical standards or software certification requirements for gambling operators in Indonesia, as all forms of gambling—both land-based and online—are strictly prohibited for both local and foreign operators.
The government focuses on blocking access to gambling websites and applications using advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, rather than regulating or certifying gambling software.
Payment service providers are required to implement robust fraud detection systems to identify and block transactions related to online gambling, but there are no published technical standards for gambling software compliance.
Data Protection, Privacy Measures, and Server Location Requirements
There are no specific data protection or privacy requirements for gambling operators, as such operations are illegal and not recognized under Indonesian law.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs prioritizes the safeguarding of personal data in the broader context of digital governance, but this does not extend to gambling operators.
There are no legal provisions or requirements regarding the location of servers for gambling platforms, since all such platforms are deemed unlawful and subject to blocking.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) Procedures
Indonesia employs a national anti-money laundering framework that applies to financial institutions and payment service providers, requiring them to monitor and report suspicious transactions, including those linked to gambling activities.
Payment service providers must strengthen fraud detection and actively report accounts suspected of being used for online gambling.
There are no AML or KYC requirements specifically tailored to gambling operators, as these entities are not legally permitted to operate within Indonesia.
Financial Reporting, Auditing Standards, and Record-Keeping Requirements
No financial reporting, auditing, or record-keeping requirements exist for gambling operators, as their activities are not legally recognized or regulated.
Financial institutions are required to cooperate with authorities in tracing and reporting payment flows linked to online gambling, but this is part of broader financial crime prevention measures, not gambling-specific regulations.
Technical Implementation Requirements for Responsible Gambling Tools
There are no technical or operational requirements for responsible gambling tools, as all gambling operations are illegal and not subject to regulation or oversight.
The government’s approach is focused on eradication and prevention, including blocking content and providing public awareness campaigns, rather than mandating harm minimization or player protection features for operators.
Kominfo Legal Documentation Portal (JDIH Kominfo) – Repository of regulations issued by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, including those on online gambling and digital content moderation.
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Gambling regulations are subject to change. The information provided on this page was accurate at the time of publication, but may not reflect the current regulatory landscape. Always consult official sources for the most up-to-date information before making any gambling-related decisions.
