Online Casinos Indonesia

Overview of the Online Casinos in Indonesia

Indonesia is a country with strict laws that forbid all types of gambling — including online games and poker. Players caught indulging in such activities can be harshly punished. Being an Islamic country, Indonesia applies Sharia law that considers playing for money evil.

However, even though the government blocks and blacklists offshore online casinos, there are many options for those who want to enjoy games like free online casino slots, blackjack, poker, craps or roulette games with jackpot. Some of them even accept Indonesian Rupiahs as a payment currency and offer its content in some of the languages spoken in the country.

Even though some of them are on the list of local online casinos, they're still available this way or by using a betting mediator website. Another good piece of advice when playing at offshore online casinos is to use an e-wallet as a payment method. 

Bonuses Available at Indonesia Online Casinos

Indonesian players that choose to register in online casinos accepting Indonesian Rupiahs will be able to enjoy all the types of bonuses on offer, no matter the currency. There are several kinds of promotions available in online casinos, the most common being:

Payment Methods Available at Indonesian Casinos

Nowadays, most online casinos offer a great range of payment options to suit almost every type of gambler. Besides the ever-present debit and credit cards, like Visa and Mastercard, there's a growing list of e-wallets appearing on the market. 

Even prepaid cards make life easier for online casino players, and cryptocurrency gambling websites often offer a service to players who want to gamble using their crypto wallet.

As previously mentioned, anyone joining an offshore online casino using a VPN should take some safety measures. When it comes to payments, the best and most convenient way is to use an e-wallet like PayPal, Skrill, ecoPayz, PaySafeCard or Neteller. 

The most common deposit methods are to gamble while in Indonesia are:

Fast Withdrawals Casinos in Indonesia

Players want to get their money that they've won without delay - which is understandable! There are a number of ways to make sure this is as fast as possible. The easiest way to ensure a quick payout is to use a fast withdrawal method, such as an e-wallet or cryptocurrency. 

The popularity of these payment methods is partly due to how quick they are to use. Players can deposit and withdraw almost instantly.

Our Review Criteria

What makes a good casino site? There are a number of different factors that we take into consideration when we're ranking all of the casinos on the site. Here are a few examples of what we look out for. 

Casino Licence

Like everyone who enjoys gambling, one of the safest steps is to choose an online casino with a reputable licence. This will reduce the chances of having a bad experience, be it because of the operator's quality or even inconvenient situations regarding the first deposits and withdrawals.

The most reputable entities issuing gambling licences are the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). Choosing an online casino holding a licence issued by either of these two regulatory bodies is the first step to having a hassle-free gambling experience.

Having to comply with numerous steps regarding security, safety and fairness to maintain the licence, casinos undergo constant scrutiny. This gives players all the means necessary to gamble in a reliable environment.

Another regulatory body on the rise is Curaçao eGaming. Online casinos with licences issued by this entity are also suitable for Indonesian players, and those gamblers coming from Malaysia and Singapore.

In Asia, the only territory offering reliable gambling licences is the Philippines. When casino operators started to target the Asian market, that country began to target the operators, offering favourable conditions to settle in the region and run their operations there.

Currently, there are two different Filipino regulatory bodies, PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) and FCLRC (First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corporation). The first regulates land-based gambling venues, while the latter is in charge of issuing online casino licences.

However, there's also an entity called POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators), a group of companies based in the country that provide services to foreign markets. These companies are all licenced by PAGCOR and cater to the Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese demands.

Importance of a Strong License

A robust regulatory body is fundamental for all gambling activities, especially online. In land-based casinos, players know what to do and where to go if they're being cheated or if anything goes wrong during the gameplay. Players will have many questions - Is the casino safe? Are the games provably fair? Are my personal and financial details safe and sound? Will they be shared with third parties? These are all common questions any newbie online casino player has, and they're all valid.

Therefore, regulation and licensing are essential to control an online casino as a whole. Getting a licence is a complex, slow process. It costs money, and there are lots of rules to comply with. If an online casino has a valid licence issued by a reputable entity, that's a point in favour of its ability to provide quality services.

Not only that, but a licence is also a guarantee that all the offers an online casino provides are regulated, fair, and safe. Regular audits by third parties are mandatory, and the same goes for using random number generators.

The existence of a regulatory body is also fundamental for player protection. If and when something goes wrong, players can count on the help of a solid entity to deal with any problems they might find during gameplay.

There are a few unlicensed online casinos out there. At first glance, deals might seem more attractive — better bonuses, higher payouts — but the risk is too high. You'll never know if your financial details are safe, if the casino rigs the games, or if you'll eventually become a phishing target. For this reason, casino sites with a valid licence are the only ones you should play at.

Indonesian Customer Support

Some say online casinos are as good as their support team. A solid and reliable team operating 24/7 with more than one contact channel available is one of the features of what makes a good casino into a great one.

Besides having an email that can be used for less urgent queries and a telephone number for those specific questions, having a live chat is a plus. This is especially so if the live chat support team is available 24/7 — so that players can get assistance no matter the time of day.

Another trait that shows the effectiveness of the casino support is the availability of a good Help Centre. Here's where players can find the FAQ section, and usually, this should be the first place to check every time a question arises. A good and comprehensive FAQ section covering most aspects of the online casino and answering the most common questions players usually have is fundamental.

Before registering, prospective users should try out the support channels and check how they work. This can help you get a feel for how the team handles queries and how fast you can expect a response.

Security

As previously mentioned, Indonesians playing in offshore casinos should look for gambling websites offering e-wallets as a casino payment method for deposits and withdrawals. All in all, this is the safest, most reliable way to top up an account or withdraw funds. 

Besides not sharing any financial info with the casino lowering the risk of phishing or fraud, an e-wallet usually offers instant deposits and has quick withdrawal times.

Safe Gaming Environment

Having a safe and secure casino environment is essential. This means that players need to be aware of some issues regarding the casino's safety policy. As already mentioned, having a licence issued by a reputable regulatory body — the number and date should generally appear on the website's footer — is the first step.

Online casinos should also comply with the industry's safety measures, such as having a robust SSL encryption protocol in place. A responsible third party should regularly audit its offers.

Good Player Reviews

A safe way to find out if an online casino is reputable and has reasonable offers is to check other players' reviews. This way, based on authentic experiences, choosing the best site to gamble at is much easier. So, search for honest opinions from real players.

When looking for real players' opinions, one should not only focus on the variety of games an online casino provides. Even though this is at the top of online casino-related searches, real users are also fundamental for sharing their insights on other things, such as how the gambling platform works, whether the casino has a valid licence or not, and if deposits and withdrawals work swiftly and smoothly. These are all proper queries most players have.

But before signing up for a new online casino, it's also good to know other things. How many games are on offer, and which types have demo modes? Is there a solid and helpful support team, and is it available 24/7? Is there a live casino? If so, how many tables and types of live dealer games are there?

If there's an online forum or page on a social media platform, don't be afraid to ask some questions and clear up any doubts you may have. Regarding online casinos and how they work, better be safe than sorry.

Online Real Money Casinos in Indonesia 2023

As most forms of gambling are illegal in Indonesia, there are no Indonesian casinos per se. From the list of offshore online casinos that accept Indonesian players, there are, however, some good examples of great gambling websites one can choose from.

Favourite Games of Indonesian Players

Video poker and video slot games can not only provide instant rewards with each spin, but they are also fun. Many have great graphics, unique characters and do not require any strategy to be played and enjoyed.

Apart from this, due to the fundamentally easy way to play — just hit spin, and you're on — these are also the perfect game to enjoy while on the go. These games are coming from the most popular casino providers in Indonesia, such as Microgaming, Netent, Novomatic and Playtech.

Slot Online Indonesia

Indonesian players looking for online casinos with a live casino can enjoy some of the most famous games with live dealers. Live casino sections are very common at online casinos that cater to worldwide customers. This happens because online gambling sites with little to no country restrictions must provide entertainment to a vast audience, and everyone loves a great live casino experience!

Live dealer tables provide the kind of entertainment one can find in a land-based casino without having the hassle of actually going to one. Accessing live tables, chatting with the dealers and sometimes with other players is a unique experience.

Players can rest assured that fun is guaranteed when it comes to games. Besides the most traditional table games, like baccarat and blackjack, some offerings specifically target the Asian market.

History of Gambling in Indonesia

Even though all sorts of gambling activities are illegal in Indonesia, this wasn't always the case. There have always been foreign influences throughout history and mainly due to the country's location and unusual shape — 34 provinces stretching through more than 17,000 islands. Being primarily Chinese and European, that influence spread to the gambling arena.

China was responsible for introducing some games to Indonesia when that country had a significant influence in the region around 700 years ago. These rudimentary coin and card games were an early form of gambling. 

Indonesia didn't have any specific gambling laws until gaining its independence in the 1960s. It was up to local and regional authorities to impose restrictions during this time. From the mid-60s until the mid-70s, gambling was legal in Jakarta. 

The then-governor of the region realized that tax money coming from gambling activities could be used for the modernization and development of the city. So by then, Jakarta had a fully-functioning casino, and the local Indonesian government even built markets, clinics, schools and other facilities during this development phase.

Due to religious issues, Jakarta established a lottery ticket system and used raffle tickets to support children's projects until restrictions appeared. During the 1960s, the regional government of Surabaya also established lottery ticket systems — Lotto and Toto Koni. These remained in place until the mid-1970s.

Gambling Laws in Modern Days

By the early 1970s, the government began to give prominence to religious laws. It started to revoke licences, close gambling sites and open the way to the strict laws in place today. By the early 1990s, most regional gambling projects — like lotteries — were already banned.

However, this was a gradual process. By the Euro 2012 championship, which many wanted to bet on, several ministries — Religious Affairs, Social Affairs, Communications & IT — decided that it was time to regulate gambling seriously. New legislation then made all forms of gambling illegal.

The government decided to fight gambling on more than one front to ensure strict laws. Religious issues are probably the main reason when it comes to gambling restrictions. Authorities realized that when it comes to online gambling, the problem must be cut at the source. With that in mind, the Ministry of Communications & IT started to block access to virtually all online gambling websites, especially those located abroad. However, this technique created some loopholes that Indonesian players use to access online casinos worldwide.

Using a VPN and sometimes mediator sites make it possible to avoid the restrictions and enjoy some casino games. Several online casinos started to accept players from the country, and some even offer content in languages spoken in Indonesia and the possibility of using local currency.

Online Gambling Laws in Indonesia

Even though Indonesia is an Asian country — a region where online gambling is exponentially growing — its strict regime considers all forms of gambling activities unsuitable pastimes. That's why both online and land-based gambling is illegal.

Apart from casinos, the rule also prevails when it comes to poker rooms, bingo halls and all sorts of betting. Even the state-run lottery that once existed was cancelled due to protests from Muslim citizens.

Like everything illegal, however, underground gambling and sports betting activities occur mainly in the larger cities. Indonesians love to bet on sports, and some sportsbooks target the most popular sports in that market.

Badminton is quite popular, but some underground bookies also offer odds on several Indonesian sports. Sepak Takraw, a South Asian kick volleyball game, and Pencak Silat, an Indonesian martial art, are extremely popular.

What is a Mediator Site?

In countries where gambling is illegal, one can often find mediator sites or agencies that work as intermediaries between players and online casinos or bookies. These websites do not directly provide online casino games or sports bets through affiliate links with several online gambling platforms. They work as brokers between players and their gambling wishes.

In Asia, there are several mediator sites. They are structured to function 24/7 and cater to all their clients' needs. Usually, there's a solid support team in place, with several channels and communication tools. Players can also enjoy various promos and casino bonuses in casino games and sports betting.

Minimum Gambling Age in Indonesia

Being illegal, there is no specific rule regarding the minimum gambling age in Indonesia. However, safe online casinos only accept 18+ players throughout the rest of the world. So, Indonesian players looking to open an account in an offshore online casino must consider this.

Overall, the minimum gambling age differs quite a lot from region to region. In Europe, for instance, the vast majority of countries have an 18+ law, apart from Belgium, Estonia, Greece and Jersey, where the minimum gambling age is 21.

Many countries have strict gambling laws in Asia and the Middle East, just like Indonesia. While some countries have a minimum gambling age of 18, several have different ages according to the type of gambling.

South America is the only continent where all countries apply an 18+ minimum gambling age law.

Land-based Casinos in Indonesia

Regarding land-based casinos, the Indonesian law is the same as for online ones: they are illegal. That's why it's tough to find legal gambling spots in the country.

However, illegal gambling is common, and the authorities face this issue on two fronts. One is the existence of unlawful gambling joints scattered throughout the country. Second, most touristic regions claim that restrictions should be eased to build legal gambling facilities that target foreign tourists.

Building gambling facilities on remote islands — don't forget Indonesia is an island nation — is also being discussed. This would, at least, allow the number of players visiting them to be controlled and restricted.

One of the major drawbacks of the gambling ban, economically speaking, is the loss of the sheer amount of money. This happens because gambling large amounts is illegal and because Indonesians spend millions in foreign-based online casinos. According to some experts, this point is the most important to consider.

Final Thoughts

Online casinos and land-based casinos in Indonesia remain illegal. That being said, there are hundreds of online casinos which function internationally, and it's worth keeping an eye on which of these could be a choice should Indonesia ever choose to change the law in its jurisdictions.

References

• Is online gambling legal in Indonesia? (Quora)
• Indonesia gambling law (Medium)