The film's "subtitle Indonesia" popularity reflects the massive reach of Hong Kong's "Golden Age" cinema in the ASEAN region God of Gamblers 3: The Early Stage (1996) - IMDb

A: Yes, it’s a prequel. You should watch it after the original 1989 film to appreciate the references.

The God of Gamblers franchise is arguably one of the most iconic film series in Hong Kong cinema history. Created by Wong Jing and launched in 1989 with Chow Yun-fat as the titular "Ko Chun," the series blended high-stakes card games, martial arts, comedy, and triad drama. By the time God of Gamblers 3: The Early Stage (also widely known as God of Gamblers 3: The Early Stage or Return of the God of Gamblers ) was released in 1996, the franchise had already become a cult phenomenon across Asia, including a massive fanbase in Indonesia.