The formal Indonesian constitution does not have any particular acts that prohibit online gambling. However, the government has officially adopted the Sharia laws. All citizens, irrespective of religion, are expected to follow the Sharia laws. Severe punishments are given to those who break the laws. According to Sharia law, gambling is considered immoral and addictive. The regulations also indicate that gambling deters players from their social responsibilities. It is because of such reasons that Sharia law prohibits gambling.
Penalty for gambling in Indonesia
As part of the Indonesian government's extensive efforts towards stopping all gambling activities in the country, it imposes hefty punishments to any individual caught breaking the gaming laws. That includes both gambling operators within the country and participants who gamble. For example, the offenders can be punished by being brutally caned in public. The punishment is usually executed publicly to warn all other individuals who might be thinking of committing the same offense. However, caning nowadays applies only in some provinces of the country.
In other provinces, gambling offenses are usually punishable by imprisonment. Individuals caught gambling face between three and five years of imprisonment. Those seen running gambling operations face up to ten years in prison. A fine may also be included in sentencing depending on the nature of the offense.
There have been numerous cases of individuals caught with gambling offenses who have been let off with only warnings in recent times. That is especially the case for online gambling. Ideally, online gambling also prevents citizens from participating in fraud and gang activities related to the illegal traditional casinos in the country. Using virtual private networks (VPNs) also makes betting online a lot safer.
Legal gambling age in Indonesia
Gambling is illegal in Indonesia, so there is no particular age when citizens can gamble legally. However, most international online casinos that allow Indonesian punters to play usually have minimum age restrictions in their policies. For most sites, the age limit is usually 18 years.