South-East Asia is quickly becoming a focal point for global poker, with major gambling hubs in Macau, Hong Kong, Philippines, Australia, and Indonesia. Indonesia’s online poker scene is gaining momentum, driven by its vast population and expats. Multiple poker sites cater to Indonesian players.
The poker industry in Indonesia is on the rise, with new sites regularly emerging to capture an enthusiastic audience. While fully legalized poker in Indonesia may face challenges, the community continues to grow every year.
Indonesia, with 261 million people, has a rising interest in online poker. While live poker is rare in cities like Jakarta, platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter keep enthusiasts updated and engaged with the game.
Indonesia’s sole online poker regulation discourages players from joining sites, but many international platforms remain accessible in English. With limited local options and the government focusing on sports betting and casinos, online poker’s future in Indonesia may be short-lived.
Best Online Poker Sites in Indonesia
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Indonesia has a significant underground market for online casinos and card games, which the government actively tries to suppress. In 2012, ministries announced plans to ban illicit gaming sites, but many large gambling platforms remain accessible to Indonesian players despite these efforts.
Top Indonesian Poker Players
While North America leads in elite poker talent, Indonesia has produced notable players like John Juanda. This Indonesian-American legend boasts over $25 million in live tournament earnings, five WSOP bracelets, a WSOP Europe title, and a 2017 Triton Poker Macau Main Event win worth $2.87 million.
Darus Suharto, an Indonesian native based in Canada, gained fame with his sixth-place finish in the 2008 WSOP Main Event, earning $2.5 million. A CPA in Ontario, he ranks among poker’s top 300 all-time earners. Other notable Indonesians include Michael Sampoerna, Sandhy Rafael Sitepu, and Satrya Teja, all achieving significant live poker success.
Legal Situation and gambling law in Indonesia
Indonesia, with its majority Muslim population, follows Islamic laws that strictly forbid all gambling, both traditional and online. This includes online poker, which the government actively combats by blocking access to gambling websites and updating a blacklist regularly. The primary laws against gambling are the Penal Code and subsequent regulations.
Indonesian authorities frequently raid underground gambling operations, imposing severe penalties and imprisonment. Despite this, some players access offshore poker sites, which remain illegal in Indonesia. Many attempt to bypass restrictions using VPNs, but this practice is also against the law.
The government also hampers transactions with gambling operations, instructing banks to block and monitor such activities. However, cryptocurrencies provide a global solution for deposits and withdrawals at poker sites.
Despite strict regulations, clandestine gambling activities sometimes transpire in tourist-centric regions like Bali. Still, the associated risks are considerable.
