Indonesia blocks Polymarket after viral presidential bet

Indonesia blocks Polymarket, calling it online gambling after a viral bet on President Prabowo. Authorities cite legal violations and plan to block similar platforms and related social media.

Indonesia has blocked access to the prediction market platform Polymarket, labeling it as an online gambling service in violation of national law. This action comes after a viral wager on Polymarket speculated about the early departure of President Prabowo Subianto, whose term is set to run until 2029. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs stated that Polymarket's activities involve betting and speculation on uncertain outcomes, which are prohibited under Indonesian law. Authorities are also monitoring and planning to block social media accounts that promote Polymarket and similar platforms, aiming to protect the public, especially younger users, from exposure to gambling-related content. This crackdown is part of a broader initiative, with millions of online betting sites already blocked since Prabowo took office. Indonesia joins countries like Singapore, Brazil, and India in restricting access to prediction market platforms.