Gambling is popular throughout the world, but it’s important to know the laws in different countries if you are hoping to partake in different activities while in the areas. One of the countries that many people ask about when it comes to the legality of gambling is Indonesia. While different forms of gambling are legal in many of the South-East Asian country’s neighbors, it remains completed banned in the country itself. In fact, gambling is growing in many of these countries while Indonesia appears to be going backward when it comes to this. There are many reasons why this is so and it appears that the country may have a long road ahead of it if there is ever hope of different forms being legalized. With $80 billion expected to be made throughout Asia when it comes to the gambling industry, the decision to keep it illegal may end up being a costly one for the country.

Why Is Gambling Illegal In Indonesia?

One of the main factors when it comes to the current legality of gambling in Indonesia is the fact that the vast majority of its population is made up of Muslims. Gambling is strictly forbidden in their religion. The types of gambling that are banned in Indonesia include betting shops, poker rooms, casinos, and even bingo halls. These regulations are strictly enforced throughout the country as they are important to the religious practices of the Muslims living in Indonesia. A state-run lottery had been offered in Indonesia at one point, but it was protested by the people of the country due to their religious beliefs. After these protests, it was discontinued by the government to satisfy the demands and preferences of the people. Because of these strict beliefs, the punishments for being caught gambling are quite severe, but this doesn’t mean that these activities don’t take place throughout the country.

Gambling Still Exists

Despite all of the heavy regulations and social norms, people throughout Indonesia still take part in gambling, especially in more popular tourist areas. This gambling usually takes place in underground venues such as sports betting rings and arcades devoted to the activities. These underground gambling are doing very well and many are actually flourishing throughout the country’s major cities. Unfortunately, the popularity of these activities has not stopped these venues from getting raided by officials and punished harshly. Many gambling fans choose to go to online casinos (see joker388) and other websites from outside of Indonesia. It’s important to note that while there is less risk with this, the Social Affairs Ministry of Indonesia is still working to make access to these sites more difficult and actively investigates websites to ensure that their games don’t violate their laws.