Indonesia blocks Polymarket after bets on Prabowo exit

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs blocked access to prediction market Polymarket on Friday after the platform listed bets on whether President Prabowo Subianto would leave office before his term ends. The ministry described Polymarket as an “online gambling site disguised as a prediction market.”

Alexander Sabar, a ministry official, warned that the government will not permit online gambling and added,

Activities like Polymarket involve betting and speculation on uncertain outcomes, thus violating Indonesian law.

The ministry wrote the block is intended to protect the public, “especially the younger generation and users of the national digital space.”

The action followed the appearance on Polymarket of a market created on May 21 that let users bet on whether Prabowo would leave office by May 31, June 30 or Dec. 31, 2026, despite his five-year term running until October 2029. The market recorded more than $46,000 in trading volume, with traders pricing roughly a 1% chance of him leaving by May 31, about 2% by June 30 and approximately 18% by the end of 2026. The ministry’s announcement did not name the presidential market specifically.

Several jurisdictions have restricted access to Polymarket. Public reports indicate the platform is blocked in more than 30 countries and that India recently added limits. Polymarket has indicated interest in seeking regulatory approval in selected markets, including Japan.

The block prevents internet users in Indonesia from reaching the Polymarket site unless the platform changes its offerings or secures local regulatory approval.