The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Technology has blocked access to the Polymarket platform. Officials equated the service to an online casino.
The trigger for the blockade was bets on the early resignation of the country’s president, Prabowo Subianto. One of the markets offered wagers on the leader stepping down before the end of 2026, despite his term ending in 2029. Trading volume in this area exceeded $46,000. The ministry emphasized that any form of online gambling is prohibited in the country.
“Polymarket’s activities involve betting and speculation on uncertain outcomes. This violates Indonesian laws,” said ministry spokesperson Alexander Sabar.
The ministry added that the decision aims to “protect the youth and users of the national digital space.”
Indonesia joins a list of countries that consider prediction markets as gambling tools. Previously, India restricted access to Polymarket. The platform is unavailable in more than 30 jurisdictions.
Supporters of the platform argue that Polymarket is a tool for tracking public sentiment. Regulators, however, fear market manipulation and insider trading. Against this backdrop, the project team plans to obtain official permits to operate in several countries, including Japan.
Back in May, Polymarket confirmed the compromise of a private key. According to on-chain analysts, the damage amounted to approximately $700,000.