Alex Smith
Sophia NovakivskaGambling within Hungary is regulated under Act XXXIV of 1991, with SZTFH responsible for gambling licensing and supervision. For online players, the main question to answer is whether an operator is authorised in Hungary or not. A licence issued elsewhere, for example, does not automatically mean an operator is allowed to take bets from Hungarian players.
Sports betting and casino gaming both have different regulatory structures, too. Since January 1, 2023, eligible Hungarian and other EEA companies have been able to apply for remote-betting authorisation.
Online casinos, however, remain restricted to concession companies established to operate a Hungarian land-based casino. This is something the regulator’s current licence register separates.
SZTFH also has the power to block unauthorised websites, and payment restrictions have applied since 1 July 2023.
Like in most countries, casino gaming and betting are for adults aged 18 or over only, with self-exclusion and player-protection measures available at all regulated sites.
At a glance
- Legal for players
- Players: legal Online gambling is legal with Hungarian-authorised operators. Sports betting and online casinos have different licensing requirements, and a foreign licence alone does not necessarily authorise an operator to serve Hungary.
- Licence types
- Remote betting: an SZTFH licence for eligible Hungarian or EEA operators. Online casinos: authorisation for a Hungarian land-based casino concession company. Other games operate under state, concession or separate licensing rules.
- Who is punished
- Unlicensed operators, advertisers and intermediaries, and payment providers that breach blocking rules. Players’ stakes and prizes from unlicensed gambling may also be confiscated.
- Penalties
- Fines, website and payment blocking, confiscation and prosecution for criminal gambling offences.
- Winnings tax
- Lawfully organised online betting and most lawful casino winnings do not count as taxable income for players. Foreign-jackpot-system prizes under section 29/Q of the Gambling Act are an exception. Winnings from unlicensed sites may be taxable. Tax guide
Law-change timeline
- Act XXXIV of 1991 establishes Hungary’s main gambling-law framework.
- Self-restriction declarations and the Player Protection Register are introduced for gambling that requires player identification.
- SZTFH is established under Act XXXII of 2021.
- Remote betting opens to eligible Hungarian and other EEA companies, subject to Hungarian authorisation.
- Payment restrictions take effect for unlicensed gambling transactions. Payment providers are now required by law to comply with statutory restrictions and account-blocking orders.
Enforcement (3)
| Date | Who | Penalty | Why | Notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Szerencsejáték Zrt. | HUF10 million in fines: HUF2.5 million for each of four games. | Procedural failures during the online closing of Skandináv lottó, Hatoslottó, Ötöslottó and Joker in game week 16. SZTFH confirmed that the winning results were unaffected. | notice | |
| Unlicensed online gambling operations | More than 2,000 website-blocking measures reported during 2024 and 2025 up to the announcement date. | Unauthorised online gambling. The number on the left shows the cumulative enforcement activity across the period. | notice | |
| Betfair | Website blocked in September 2023; withdrawal announced to customers on 22 May 2024. | Offering gambling services without Hungarian authorisation, according to SZTFH. | notice |
Licensees (5)
Blocked list (3)
Regulator
Sources
- SZTFH — Payment-blocking rules, 29 June 2023 · sztfh.hu · checked
- SZTFH — Gambling supervision and player protection · sztfh.hu · checked
- SZTFH — Establishment and regulatory role · sztfh.hu · checked
- Gambling Act — Act XXXIV of 1991 · njt.jog.gov.hu · checked
- SZTFH — Szerencsejáték Zrt. fine, 21 July 2026 · sztfh.hu · checked
- SZTFH — Website-blocking update, 2 July 2025 · sztfh.hu · checked
- SZTFH — Betfair withdrawal announcement, 24 May 2024 · sztfh.hu · checked
- SZTFH — Gambling licence register · sztfh.hu · checked
- SZTFH — Blocked gambling websites · sztfh.hu · checked
SZTFH lists online casino and remote-betting authorisations separately, which can be slightly confusing. As of 10 November 2026, the listed licence entries were shown as non-suspended. If you want to view blocked websites, you can check the SZTFH’s blocked-websites register. Any blocked website also includes details of subdomains. Further information: remote betting licences, online casino licences, Personal Income Tax Act, section 76 on Jogtár and information for players. Something wrong? Report an error.