Top-rated Sports betting gambling sites in Indonesia

Indonesia is essentially an Islamic nation, given that Muslims constitute a staggering 85% of the country's population. The Sharia law is unambiguous regarding betting and gambling in general. According to this law, betting is haram (not allowed), meaning that anyone found guilty is subject to punishment.

And gambling is not only illegal but seen as immoral as well. No betting shop or lottery is allowed in the country, and the Indonesian government has been known to crack down on any illicit bookmakers even before they appear. So, what options are Indonesians who want to bet left with?

Top-rated Sports betting gambling sites in Indonesia
Ethan Moore
Written byEthan MooreWriter
Researched byMatteo BianchiResearcher
Indonesia betting

Indonesia betting

22Bet, 1xBet, Betfair, Meltbet, and BK8, are some of the offshore betting sites accepting players from Indonesia. Indonesians use VPNs to ensure the authorities don't catch up with them to access these sites. The implication for this is that punters in Indonesia are not protected. If an overseas online betting site withholds their money, there is no legal route to help them recover their losses.

To prevent such a scenario, any Indonesian punter needs to pay due diligence when choosing a sportsbook to bet at. To sum up, betting is not as popular in Indonesia as it is in non-Islamic states, but there are millions of Indonesians who bet at offshore international casinos.

Indonesia betting
History of betting in Indonesia

History of betting in Indonesia

Betting does not boast an impressive history in Indonesia. As explained above, Indonesia is primarily a Muslim nation, meaning that betting has never been regarded as an option in the country. However, the activity has some history, of course. Online betting is believed to have started way back in 1994. Apparently, this came as a surprise to many nations, given that not many countries had not thought of online betting as a possibility.

At the time online betting became a reality, no betting shop or any physical gambling location was allowed in Indonesia. But internet betting was a whole new phenomenon, which the Indonesian government could hardly control. With punters able to use VPNs and other online tools to access online sportsbooks, the Indonesian authorities cannot claim success in their endeavors to stop online betting. In 2012, the government announced plans to ensure a complete ban on all forms of online gambling, including sports betting.

History of betting in Indonesia
Future of betting in Indonesia

Future of betting in Indonesia

Indonesia remains under the strict rule of Sharia law, whose stand on betting and gambling, in general, is clear. With the 2012 announcement in force, Indonesian authorities have implemented several measures to ensure no one bets online within the country's borders. This is a pointer to the fact that the betting landscape in Indonesia has no bright future.

However, unless the government goes the extra mile to block access to offshore sportsbooks, its efforts may not be very effective. Technology is evolving every day. Today, there are VPNs to reach otherwise inaccessible betting sites from Indonesian soil. With these tools, punters in Indonesia can bet at any international site while masking their actual IP addresses. This makes it very difficult for the government to police internet activities.

What is more, many online betting sites still allow Indonesians to sign up and bet on their favorite sports events. And cryptos are taking internet betting by storm, with punters able to bet anonymously. Without cryptos, the Indonesian government had a good chance to implement its online betting ban effectively.

That's because VPNs can be blocked with robust anti-VPN technology. A good example is the Great Firewall of China. With this 'wall,' China is able to regulate internet use within the country and block access to foreign websites. No VPN has proved to be able to bypass this barrier. Who knows, Indonesia may be contemplating the same.

The Internet Factor

The widespread internet accessibility in Indonesia seems to be one of the biggest obstacles as far as preventing online betting is concerned. Today (as of 2022), about 70% of the country is connected to the internet. That means at least 190 million Indonesians use the internet, making it literally impossible to prevent online gambling.

But the spread of the internet won't stop there. There are another 90 million or so people who are yet to access the internet. By the time the whole population is covered, the situation may worsen. What may be left for the authorities in Indonesia is arrests and prosecution of lawbreakers, who are already proving to be too clever by using virtual private networks.

Future of betting in Indonesia
Betting legislation in Indonesia

Betting legislation in Indonesia

So far, it is clear that gambling laws in Indonesia are stricter than any punter can imagine. This is terrible news for Indonesians who want to give sports betting a shot. To worsen the situation, the country's Social Affairs Ministry, in collaboration with the Communications and IT Ministry, created an internet censorship scheme to block the citizens from accessing gambling websites in the country.

One thing to note is that although gambling is illegal in Indonesia, there are secretly operated physical gambling casinos that take bets. The operators of these physical locations are criminal gangs who are always on the run; hence, it not safe at all to bet in such places. The best option for gamblers is online gambling sites with a solid reputation.

Punishing Gambling Culprits in Indonesia

While there are ways to get around these laws anyway, it is essential for bettors to understand what awaits them in case the system catches up with them. The Indonesian Criminal Code provides imprisonment of up to a decade for citizens who break gambling laws. There are also other forms of punishment, such as flogging. In 2013, for instance, a police officer was flogged in public for violating gambling laws in Indonesia. This may be a surprise, especially in Europe, but what else can be expected of an Islamic state?

Legal Gambling Age in Indonesia

Now that sports betting and gambling at large are prohibited in Indonesia, there is no such thing as the legal gambling age; it simply doesn't exist in the country's legal dictionary. However, offshore sites that accept Indonesians tend to demand a certain minimum age before accepting punters from the country. This varies from one sportsbook to another, but most put the age qualification at 18 or 21. But with most offshore bookies unable to verify the age of bettors, the age requirement is not a big issue for Indonesian citizens. More often, sportsbooks require punters to answer a simple yes/no question about their age. This is perhaps a disclaimer strategy; who knows?

Betting legislation in Indonesia
Indonesian players' favorite games

Indonesian players' favorite games

Locals in Indonesia have a passion for a wide range of sports, and that's perhaps one reason why they love betting despite strict government monitoring. Indonesians have many favorites to bet on, from football and badminton to volleyball and mixed martial arts.

Football

As in other countries, football enjoys a passionate following in Indonesia, with football clubs such as Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta sparking excitement among fans and punters alike. Top betting sites for Indonesians offer odds on all major competitions and leagues, whether local or international, including Indonesia's Liga 1, La Liga, and the English Premier League.

Volleyball

Indonesians have what they call Sepak Takraw, a kick volleyball game loved across the country. This sport brings together thousands of players to entertain the Indonesian population while allowing them to bet. Some of the most common bets in this sport include total sets, handicap, and Moneyline.

Basketball

The Indonesian Basketball League is the top-most in the country. It has lots of fans, and with teams such as Satria Muda Pertamina Jakarta being the fans' favorite, Indonesians have every reason to bet on the sport. Indonesian betting sites also offer odds on international basketball competitions, such as the National Basketball Association (NBA) games.

Other popular sports

On top of the above three sports, Indonesians also love betting on badminton, mixed martial arts, horse racing, and eSports. Badminton, in particular, enjoys a considerable following now that the national team has already been crowned champions of the Thomas Cup 13 times. That success is a significant pull factor for bettors, and bookies can't afford to disappoint.

Indonesian players' favorite games
Payment Methods in Indonesia

Payment Methods in Indonesia

Indonesians who want to deposit funds and bet for real money must not forget one thing; the Indonesian government is always on the lookout for lawbreakers. That means Indonesians cannot use banking methods that expose them to the long arm of the law.

Players who attempt to deposit funds into their sportsbook accounts using debit or credit cards risk losing their money. Besides, local banks in the country, including Bank Mandiri and Bank Rakyat Indonesia, can't risk facing the government's wrath by allowing punters to transfer funds to their betting accounts. Hence, Indonesian punters who want to bet at offshore sportsbooks must transact anonymously to avoid being caught. Here are some of the safest banking methods available to these citizens.

Cryptocurrencies

No banking method comes close to cryptos in terms of safety. Cryptos are digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Litecoin. Of these, Bitcoin is the most popular. Cryptos are entirely anonymous, which means the Indonesian government has no chance of catching the users. All crypto deposits and withdrawals cannot be traced to any actual address or name.

E-wallets

E-wallets are not only used in Indonesia but the world at large. In fact, e-wallets are the most common way of sending and receiving money online, and their safety cannot be questioned. Like cryptos, e-wallets are not linked directly to users' personal information. This makes it difficult for anyone to trace users. Some popular e-wallets in Indonesia include Jenius, DANA, LinkAja, OVO, and GoPay. That's a decent collection punters can choose from.

Payment Methods in Indonesia
FAQs

FAQs

Is Online Betting Legal in Indonesia?

No. Indonesia is an Islamic state governed by Sharia Law. As such, betting and gambling, in general, are entirely illegal. However, Indonesians can sign up with offshore sportsbooks and bet anonymously.

What Are the Most Popular Sports for Betting in Indonesia?

There are many sports that Indonesians love to bet on, but football, Sepak Takraw, basketball, badminton, eSports, mixed martial arts, and horse racing are the most popular ones.

What Payment Methods Can Indonesian Punters Use?

With betting being illegal in Indonesia, Indonesians go for payment methods that allow them to transact anonymously. These include e-wallets such as Jenius, DANA, LinkAja, OVO, and GoPay, as well as cryptos such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum.

Are Punters in Indonesia Required to Pay Taxes on Their Winnings?

Betting is illegal in Indonesia, meaning there is no law governing betting income. Thus, betting winnings are not taxable in the country.

What Are Some of the Best Sportsbooks for Indonesians?

Indonesians have many sportsbooks accepting them. Some of them include 22Bet, Bet365, Betfair, Meltbet, and BK8, among others. With no law protecting Indonesian punters from scammers, it is upon the punters to look for offshore bookmakers whose reputation is good.

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About the author
Ethan Moore
Ethan Moore

Ethan "BetMaster" Moore, born amidst the pulsating energy of London, combines a sharp analytical mind with the excitement of sports. As the chief writer for BettingRanker, he offers a unique blend of stats, strategies, and stories, making the world of sports betting both accessible and thrilling.

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