Is Online Poker Legal In Indonesia?
With Indonesia’s massive population of over 261 million and a love for sports betting and poker, it might surprise some to know that online poker is not legal in the country. This is mainly because poker is seen as gambling and casinos are not allowed. However, it is not as simple as that because, despite the fact that poker is a game of skill and far from pure gambling, it is still grouped with casino games and gambling in general and is therefore illegal to play in Indonesia.
Nonetheless, the Internet is a wonderful thing and fortunately for poker players in Indonesia, the government hasn’t yet blocked access to global online poker sites. Indonesians are currently able to sign up with iPoker and MPN poker networks that allow them to deposit rupiah (Indonesian Yen) via local bank transfer and cash out winnings in the same way.
While North America may have the upper hand when it comes to elite poker players, Indonesia is quickly catching up with the country producing several top-tier players of its own. This is especially true with John Juanda who has a staggering $25 million in total live tournament earnings to his name and five World Series of Poker bracelets.
As a result of the current situation, more people than ever are looking for reliable online poker sites in Indonesia. The best ones are those that offer the highest payouts, have good customer support and have a safe and secure environment. Luckily, these poker sites are not hard to find and with some careful searching, you can soon be playing the game for real money in one of the most popular countries in Asia.