Kemkomdigi Blocks Polymarket Suspected of Being a Prediction Market Masquerading as Online Gambling

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (Kemkomdigi) has cut off access to the website www.polymarket.com on the grounds that it constitutes online gambling (judol). Kemkomdigi is reviewing all social media accounts affiliated with Polymarket.

“This is intended to implement restrictions and a comprehensive blocking of access across various platforms,” said Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Surveillance at Kemkomdigi, in a press conference in Jakarta on Saturday (23 May 2026).

He stated that platforms that facilitate money-based bets on a given outcome or event remain categorised as judol. Although the site is packaged as a prediction market, including the use of blockchain technology and crypto assets, the practice nonetheless constitutes gambling.

“Activities like Polymarket involve monetary bets and speculation on an event whose outcome is not yet certain, thus contravening the applicable laws in Indonesia,” said Alexander.

As a protective measure for the public, particularly the younger generation and users of the national digital space, he said, Kemkomdigi is blocking access to the Polymarket platform and services of similar nature that are suspected of facilitating judol. “The government will not provide space for any form of online gambling in Indonesia,” concluded Alexander.