Online poker is currently illegal in Timor Leste following a government ban implemented in October 2025. The government revoked all existing licenses for online betting and gaming, and suspended all pending applications and future approvals indefinitely (1). The resolution, introduced by Minister for Cabinet Affairs Agio Pereira, placed enforcement responsibility with the minister and the country's security services, effectively dismantling Timor Leste's emerging online gambling sector.
Prior to the ban, gambling legislation in Timor Leste was significantly restricted and underdeveloped, governed by Decree Law No. 6/2009, which permitted activities such as lotteries, cockfighting, and casino games (2). There were no formal laws specifically controlling or banning online gambling activities, leaving the market in legal limbo. The Virtual Gaming Association had been advocating for establishing an online gaming industry with B2C and B2B licenses patterned after Malta's system, with the first offshore license granted in April 2025.
"The sudden reversal comes in the wake of warnings from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which reported evidence of transnational crime operating within East Timor's enclave of Oecussi, located on the Indonesian side of the island."
The government justified its intervention by citing identified risks to national security, social stability, economic integrity, and international reputation (1). The UNODC flagged the growing influence of international scam and gambling syndicates, leading to the arrest of 10 individuals for illegal betting and online fraud schemes. The report suggested Oecussi may be developing into a regional hub for organized digital crime, with profits laundered through seemingly legitimate local businesses, including those with ties to political figures.
Source:
https://news.worldcasinodirectory.com/east-timor-halts-online-gambling-licenses-amid-security-warnings-120019
https://www.igamingtoday.com/gambling-regulations-in-east-timor/
Last updated: 10-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
