Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

[subandi]

hello.
I searched for "online poker" and "gambling" on your forums but found nothing so sorry if this has been already asked.
I am a online poker player from germany and I am half indonesian.
I make my living here in germany by playing poker and I am able to put some at the side so I'd love to move out of germany at the end of the year or next year.
my first thought of course was indonesia since I've been there a lot of times, I was on bali as well as staying with my indonesian family in sumatra..
I know that gambling in general is considered a crime in indonesia but I' ve read some articles that online poker doesnt quite fit into this category because youre not playing a no chance lucky game against a house but a skill game against other players.

does anyone here knows how strict they enforce the anti gambling laws?
I think maybe bali is a little different in this apart from the rest of indonesia?

do you have to state where you get your money from as an expat in bali ot do they just take it for granted that you get money "somehow"?

all I need for a living is a stable 24 hour internet connection and a reliable bank...
thank you in advance for any help,
subandi

[Bert Vierstra]

Read this about taxes:

http://www.expat.or.id/info/individualincometaxes.html

Gambling is forbidden in Indonesia.

[Roy]

Welcome to the forum Subandi, although I must say, your introduction would certainly be in the top 5th percentile if judged by subject matter.

To answer your question, at least partially...access to on-line poker sites via Indonesian based ISP addresses is not blocked. However, participating in gambling activities on those sites...well, that is another matter, and as you already noted, once here, you are subject to Indonesian law.

Forgive me for doubting you, but the idea of a professional poker player making a living via internet poker sites seems to me out of the realm of possibility. The game of poker is a sweat, stink and eye game, and without that personal aspect of the game, it is reduced to pure actuarial odds only.

My advise is to take the Air Macau flight from Jakarta...junkets are very cheap, and play the game the way it was intended to be played.

[subandi]

thank you for your quick reply.
I know that gambling in general is forbidden in indonesia thats why I came here to ask if this applies to online poker, too as I've heard from other sources (for example a manager of my poker room..) that online poker is not getting enforced there.
can you maybe tell me who I should contact about this?
maybe the indonesian embassy?

[subandi]

Forgive me for doubting you, but the idea of a professional poker player making a living via internet poker sites seems to me out of the realm of possibility. The game of poker is a sweat, stink and eye game, and without that personal aspect of the game, it is reduced to pure actuarial odds only.

no problem you can doubt me, I was doubting too when I went pro last year but everything is fine and I do make my living here in germany.
its just that I wanted to leave germany at some time in my life anyways and now I will have the opportunity..
of course I would not even think about moving if I couldnt save enough money to do it..

[Roy]

Well, let’s see. One person I can suggest is Made Pastika. I’m sure he’d love to hear from you! You can search Made Pastika on Google and Yahoo all you like, and then I guess you’ll understand the joke here.

Personally, I’m sorry to say that I don’t know anyone who is that monumentally stupid as to play on-line poker.

Indonesian embassy? Sorry, but they aren’t stupid either!

[Roy]

Are you telling me that the Germans are that gullible in what is America's national gambling game? If so, then maybe I should book a flight to Berlin for a “blood, sweat and tears” game?

This is just too funny for me.

Froggy, are you following this? Geez, I think even Jamie from Nuuujursssy will get this one!

[subandi]

I dont know why you dont seem to believe me.
if you search the internet you will learn that there are thousands of professional online poker players in the world - I am not talking about "playing a little bit poker online"..
as I already said the question is not if its possible(or stupid) to play poker for a living,
since I am already successfully doing this here in germany where the living costs are much higher.
the question is if I would be facing trouble by the police there since I dont know how I should pay taxes on online poker if its forbidden there..
I'm not worried about not earning enough..

[Bert Vierstra]

Gambling is taking risks, right?

Now calculate the odds of authorities looking for people playing "online games".

[subandi]

Gambling is taking risks, right?

Now calculate the odds of authorities looking for people playing "online games".

yes gambling is taking risks but please lets not argue about this any longer poker is not a game of pure luck unlike roulette for example.
since you play against other players and not against the house everyone has the same risk (getting bad cards.. whatever) but better players win more when they are ahead and lose less when they are behind. in the long run the odds dont really matter.. I play over 1500 hands of poker at min 6 tables every day and this is not even remotely close to top online pros..

because I cant calculate the odds of authorities looking for people playing online I came here to ask..
I dont know why all of you are so negative?

edit: for example there are a lot of online poker pro expats living in thailand.. but i like indonesia much better..!

[Roy]

I dont know why you dont seem to believe me.

Because I know the game VERY well! That's why.

Frankly, I wouldn't play on-line poker at gun point, even if holding a straight flush.

But hey, if you are serious, I'll see to it that you get your Kitas, and we'll set you up in the bunker under our temple. The police would NEVER check there!

Seriously, a secret entrance, sacred, not to be violated by anything so banal as a police investigation, etc. and we'll only ask for 30% of the wins of course.

Send me a PM and we can begin with the details.

You "caught" me in a very good mood, so I am being very kind, which is something I'm not always noted for being. Can we leave this discussion at that?

[Bert Vierstra]

Because I know the game VERY well! That's why.

Ha, we should organize poker nights!

(Playing for match sticks)

[subandi]

ok I see this is not the community I looked for.
I think I have to search elsewhere for the answears.
thank you everybody though for taking your time to respond.

[Bert Vierstra]

No problem subandi.

Good luck, uhhh skill

[Roy]

Geez, Bert, you ruined it! I was just warming up this boy for a good night of Texas hold em!

AhhhhhDeuuu!

[JAMIE]

A couple of things , Bert /Roy ...really like the pics of you guys . Roy you should know better , we say it this way , New joysey . I think youve been away too long . As far as online poker goes , Ive never done it though the poker champ a couple of years ago (think he name is moneymaker ) got his start on the online sites and become a chap . The frog is better suited (pun intended ) to share in these matters then me . Bty , Bert I just bought the same type of reading glasses !