The government of Timor-Leste has enacted a sweeping prohibition on online gambling and betting, canceling all current licenses and halting the issuance of new ones. This decision, formalized through a Council of Ministers resolution, reflects deep concerns about security, social stability, and the country’s international standing.
Authorities confirmed that the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, introduced the resolution, which explicitly orders the cancellation of ongoing licensing procedures and forbids the approval of any future applications. The move ensures that digital gambling platforms can no longer legally operate within Timor-Leste’s jurisdiction.
Risks Behind the Ban
Officials explained that the prohibition was motivated by threats to national security, public order, economic integrity, and Timor-Leste’s global reputation. The government emphasized that enforcement will be closely supervised by the designated minister in cooperation with national security forces to guarantee compliance.
The action follows escalating concerns from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which issued a report in September warning of criminal infiltration in Oecussi, a Timorese enclave on the Indonesian side of the island. The UNODC cautioned that the region already shows signs of being exploited by digital crime networks, noting that individuals previously convicted in similar cases across Asia have been linked to operations there.
Earlier this month, ten people were arrested in Oecussi on charges of illegal gambling and computer fraud, heightening fears that the enclave could transform into a hub for fraudulent digital schemes.
UNODC Concerns and Regional Comparisons
According to the UNODC, Timor-Leste’s challenges mirror patterns observed in Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Malaysia—countries where online gambling has fueled scam centers and criminal activity. The organization noted that illicit profits from these operations are frequently laundered through local businesses and sometimes involve individuals with government connections.
One UNODC document even highlighted that a Timorese government official was connected to a hotel believed to host companies tied to criminal enterprises, linking it to business interests in Dili and leadership previously removed from the Special Administrative Region of Oecussi.
Experts stressed that “the expansion of Southeast Asia’s fraud centre industry into Timor-Leste is a sign of its overall growth,” adding that the country shows “striking similarities” to other regional hotspots for illegal online gambling.
ASEAN Membership Raises Additional Concerns
Authorities are particularly wary of how these issues may evolve when Timor-Leste officially joins the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in October 2025. Membership is expected to strengthen the nation’s economic integration with its neighbors but may also increase exposure to cross-border criminal networks.
Government officials pledged to apply strict oversight of the gambling ban, underscoring their determination to prevent fraudulent industries from gaining a foothold in the country. The resolution, they argued, is as much about safeguarding domestic order as it is about protecting Timor-Leste’s credibility on the international stage.
Source:
Timor-Leste scraps online gambling licences, macaubusiness.com, October 2, 2025
