Indonesia blocks Polymarket after bets on President Prabowo's exit
Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) has blocked crypto-based prediction market platform Polymarket, describing the service as a form of online gambling. The ministry said authorities had blocked the platform over concerns it facilitated money-based betting on uncertain outcomes, while affiliated social media accounts were also being examined.
The crackdown came days after Polymarket attracted attention in Indonesia for hosting wagers on whether President Prabowo Subianto would leave office before the end of his term in 2029.
According to the ministry, access to www.polymarket.com has been officially blocked in Indonesia. Director General of Digital Space Supervision Alexander Sabar said platforms facilitating monetary speculation on uncertain events would still be categorised as online gambling, even if they were presented as prediction markets using blockchain technology or crypto assets.
“The government will not allow any form of online gambling in Indonesia. Activities like Polymarket involve betting and speculation on uncertain outcomes, thus violating Indonesian law,” Sabar said in Central Jakarta on 22 May.
Government frames Polymarket as online gambling
Through a series of posts shared on Komdigi’s official X account, the ministry outlined its reasons for blocking the platform and explained how Indonesian authorities viewed prediction markets.
One government graphic stated that Komdigi had blocked Polymarket because it was considered “online gambling disguised as a prediction market”. The post said the ministry had officially blocked access to the platform because it was believed to facilitate money-based betting on outcomes “that are not yet certain”.
Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital Republik Indonesia resmi memblokir akses ke Polymarket yang terindikasi memfasilitasi aktivitas taruhan berbasis uang atas hasil atau peristiwa yang belum pasti. pic.twitter.com/nSpBzJpOyp
— Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital (@kemkomdigi) May 23, 2026
Another post confirmed the government was extending its enforcement beyond the website itself. The ministry stated that investigations were also being conducted into affiliated social media accounts “in order to impose comprehensive access restrictions”.
A separate infographic explained why Indonesian authorities considered Polymarket to fall under online gambling regulations. The ministry said that although prediction markets were packaged differently from traditional betting products, their mechanisms resembled gambling practices because they involved wagering money on uncertain outcomes and contained elements of speculation.
A separate “Protection Efforts” X post said authorities were blocking access to Polymarket and related services, coordinating with relevant authorities, warning users against speculative betting involving crypto assets, and expanding oversight of online gambling activity.
In another post, Komdigi said several countries had already taken similar action against Polymarket and comparable prediction market platforms. Singapore, Brazil and India were specifically named, while Taiwan, Thailand, China and Japan were also described as jurisdictions that had imposed access restrictions under their respective national laws.
One of the ministry’s final posts featured a statement from Sabar reiterating the government’s stance. “The government will not provide space for any form of online gambling in Indonesia,” he said, adding that platforms such as Polymarket involved “money-based betting and speculation on events whose outcomes are not yet certain”.
Political betting market drew attention
The Indonesian block came shortly after Polymarket hosted markets tied to Prabowo’s presidency. One market allowed users to wager on whether the Indonesian president would be “out as president” before several future dates, including 31 May, 30 June and 31 December 2026, despite Prabowo’s current presidential term running until October 2029.
The market reportedly appeared on the platform on 21 May, one day after Prabowo announced plans to centralise control of key Indonesian commodity exports, including coal and palm oil. His economic policies have been closely watched by investors in recent months.
The prediction market quickly gained traction on Indonesian social media and appeared to intensify regulatory scrutiny around the platform.
Indonesia has long maintained strict anti-gambling laws, and authorities have increasingly expanded enforcement efforts against online betting operations. The government has previously targeted gambling websites, payment systems and online networks linked to unauthorised betting activity.
Growing global pressure on prediction markets
Indonesia’s decision reflects broader global concerns around prediction market platforms, including Polymarket and competitor Kalshi. These platforms allow users to trade on the outcome of future events, including elections, sports and economic trends, while regulators in multiple countries continue debating whether such products fall under gambling laws.
In India, authorities are also intensifying restrictions on offshore prediction market operators. India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is expected to formally block Kalshi after already taking action against Polymarket. Under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules (PROGA), officials have increasingly viewed event-based contracts involving real-money stakes as prohibited online gaming activities.
Indian authorities previously issued advisories warning users against accessing “illegal and blocked prediction market and online betting platforms”.
Despite those warnings, Indian users reportedly remained able to access both Polymarket and Kalshi in recent weeks. The Indian crackdown has already affected parts of the country’s broader real-money gaming sector, with operators including Dream11, WinZO, Zupee, PokerBaazi and Games24x7 having scaled back or suspended some real-money operations following regulatory changes.
Meanwhile, regulators in South Korea have also begun examining Polymarket. South Korea’s Korea Communications Standards Commission recently launched a review into whether the platform constitutes an illegal gambling site under domestic law after a complaint was filed against the service.
Korean officials said prediction markets are more difficult to classify legally than conventional betting sites because they operate differently from traditional gambling platforms. However, regulators said the service could still be considered a new form of gambling-related platform.
Polymarket remains accessible in South Korea and currently offers a Korean-language interface, factors that could strengthen regulatory jurisdiction under Korean communications law.
At the same time, Polymarket has continued pursuing international expansion despite increasing regulatory pressure. Reports recently suggested the company was exploring long-term entry into the Japanese market and had appointed Mike Eidlin to help lead its Japan strategy. Japanese users currently remain blocked from accessing the platform because of compliance and regulatory restrictions.
The New York-based platform has also reportedly introduced a simplified Chinese-language version of its website while expanding contracts linked to Chinese cultural and consumer events.
Despite mounting legal scrutiny, prediction market trading volumes continue to rise globally. Polymarket reportedly handled around $9 billion in trading volume during April 2026, while Kalshi’s monthly trading volume climbed to approximately $14.81 billion during the same period.
Indonesia’s latest move signals that regulators are increasingly unwilling to separate prediction markets from gambling frameworks when real-money speculation on uncertain events is involved.
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