Sports betting in Hungary is regulated under the Gambling Act (Act XXXIV of 1991), which governs both land-based and online gaming activities. Land-based sports betting has long been operated by the state-owned Szerencsejáték Zrt., while online sports betting was traditionally closed to foreign operators until recent reforms (1).
Since January 1, 2023, the Hungarian regulator (Szerencsejáték Felügyelet) opened the online sports betting market to companies from the European Economic Area, allowing them to apply for a licence under Section 29/E of the Gambling Act. All operators must adhere to strict anti-money laundering and responsible gambling requirements (2).
"The cornerstone of the Hungarian gambling law is the Gambling Act, which applies to both land-based and online gambling. Its general provisions contain, among others, the definition of a game of chance, certain criteria regarding the procedures of gambling operators and the Government control of operators." (1)
All licensed sportsbooks must contribute a minimum percentage of stake revenue back to players as prize money and pay a quarterly gaming tax of 4 ‰ on net gaming revenue. Advertising is tightly controlled, with specific restrictions on promotional activities to protect vulnerable groups and prevent gambling harms (2).
Source:
https://iclg.com/practice-areas/gambling-laws-and-regulations/hungary
https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/1991-34-00-00.54
Last updated: 28-05-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
