Hungary online gambling license (SZTFH)
A restrictive EU market in transition. Remote sports betting has been open to experienced EEA operators since 2023, but the conditions are steep and no foreign operator has entered; online casino stays with the land-based casino concession holders. After the April 2026 election, the state operator, the concessions and the regulator are all under review.
- Best for
- Established EEA sportsbooks with five years of licensed history, or buyers of a concession company
- Who can be licensed
- B2C operators
- Markets it serves
- EU regulated markets
Hungary regulates gambling under Act XXXIV of 1991 on Gambling Operations, supervised by the SZTFH (Supervisory Authority of Regulated Activities). Since 1 January 2023 EEA operators can apply for a remote betting license, valid up to seven years, if they have at least five years of licensed online experience in the EEA, no unlicensed offering in the previous five years, HUF 1 billion share capital, a Hungarian representative and branch, and a server in Hungary. Online casino is reserved to companies linked to the land-based casino concessions, and lottery and retail betting remain with the state-owned Szerencsejáték Zrt. No foreign operator holds a license. After the April 2026 election the government is reviewing the state operator, the casino concessions and the SZTFH itself.
- Status
- Licensing open
- Regulator
- SZTFH
- Legal basis
- Act XXXIV of 1991 on Gambling Operations, as amended from 1 January 2023
- Status checked
- October 16, 2026
Gambling licenses in Hungary
Hungary splits online gambling by product. Betting has a licensing route for EEA operators; online casino follows the land-based casino concessions; lottery stays with the state.
Remote betting license
Online sports betting for EEA operators since 1 January 2023, for up to seven years, one website per license.
Online casino
Online casino and poker only through a concession company linked to one of the land-based casino concessions, capped at 12 nationally.
Land-based casino concession
Awarded by the state for up to 35 years; the 2026 government is reviewing how key concessions were granted.
State monopoly
Lottery and retail sports betting are run by the state-owned Szerencsejáték Zrt., which also holds a remote betting license.
Who can hold a remote betting license
| Requirement | Under the Gambling Act, as amended in 2023 |
|---|---|
| Company | A company incorporated in the EEA, registered through a Hungarian representative |
| Track record | At least five years of licensed online gambling in another EEA state |
| Clean history | No unlicensed gambling offered in the previous five years |
| Capital and guarantee | HUF 1 billion share capital plus a security deposit |
| Local presence | A Hungarian branch within 90 days of the license, and the gaming server in Hungary |
| Online casino | Not open to applicants: online casino is run only by concession companies of land-based casino concession holders |
Operating and player-protection rules
One site per license
Each remote betting license covers one website, with the gaming server located in Hungary.
Age and identity
Players must be 18 or older and are identified at registration.
Player protection register
Operators check the SZTFH player protection register of excluded players and offer reality checks and deposit limits.
AML
Operators are obliged entities under Act LIII of 2017 and SZTFH AML decrees, with customer due diligence and reporting.
Player protection funding
Casinos and online casinos direct 3% of gaming tax to player protection or charity.
Timeline
Up to 75 days to register the representative, then up to 120 days for the license decision.
How the application runs
The statutory deadlines add up to about 6.5 months: up to 75 days to register the Hungarian representative and up to 120 days for the license decision, before branch, server and certification work.
- 1Eligibility checkConfirm the EEA entity, five years of licensed EEA history and no unlicensed offering in the last five years.
- 2RepresentativeRegister the Hungarian representative with the SZTFH.
- 3ApplicationFile the remote betting application with capital, security deposit and technical documentation.
- 4SetupServer in Hungary, one website per license, player protection register checks and AML program; branch within 90 days.
- 5Go-liveLaunch, pay monthly gaming tax and track the 2026 reform, which may change the market structure.
Ongoing obligations
- Monthly gaming tax of 15% of net gaming revenue on remote betting
- Gaming server in Hungary and one website per license
- Player protection register checks, reality checks and deposit limits
- Advertising only for licensed gambling, never aimed at minors
- AML due diligence and reporting under Act LIII of 2017
- Hungarian branch and representative maintained
- Corporate income tax of 9% and local business tax
How gambling is taxed
Remote betting
15% of net gaming revenue, paid monthly.
Casino
Casino gaming tax starts at 30% of revenue up to HUF 10 billion, with HUF 3 billion plus 10% above that; online casino is taxed at 30% or more.
Corporate tax
Corporate income tax is 9%, plus local business tax.
Players
Winnings from Hungarian-licensed operators are tax-free; winnings from foreign sites are taxed at 15% personal income tax.
EU rulings, enforcement and the 2026 reform
CJEU rulings
Berlington (C-98/14, 2015), Unibet (C-49/16, 2017) and Sporting Odds (C-3/17, 2018) found parts of the Hungarian regime incompatible with EU law, including tying online licenses to land-based concessions.
Enforcement
The SZTFH publishes lists of blocked gambling websites, blocked advertising pages and prohibited payment accounts; unlawful ads can be fined up to ten times the gain, at least HUF 10 million.
2026 review
After the April 2026 election the government ordered an audit of Szerencsejáték Zrt., replaced its board, and on 2 October Parliament curtailed the SZTFH’s role over concessions.
What may change
Commentators expect a multi-license model separating online casino from land-based concessions, but no draft law has been published.
Weighing Hungary against other EU markets? Our European gambling license comparison covers all 27 member states: which products each licenses, the regulators, B2B rules and Finland's 2027 opening.
Compare EU marketsFrequently asked questions
Who regulates gambling in Hungary?
The SZTFH (Supervisory Authority of Regulated Activities), set up in 2021, under Act XXXIV of 1991 on Gambling Operations. In 2026 the new government ordered a review of the authority, and Parliament curtailed its role over concessions on 2 October 2026.
Can a foreign operator get an online betting license in Hungary?
Yes, in principle. Since 1 January 2023 an EEA company with at least five years of licensed online experience in the EEA, no unlicensed offering in the previous five years and HUF 1 billion share capital can apply. No foreign operator has done so yet.
Is online casino legal in Hungary?
Yes, but only through concession companies linked to the land-based casino concessions. There is no standalone online casino license, so outside operators can enter only by acquiring or partnering with a concession holder.
How long is a Hungarian remote betting license valid?
Up to seven years. Each license covers one website.
How is online gambling taxed in Hungary?
Remote betting pays 15% of net gaming revenue monthly. Casino gaming tax starts at 30%. Corporate income tax is 9%, and players pay no tax on winnings from licensed operators.
Does the server have to be in Hungary?
Yes. A remote betting licensee needs its gaming server in Hungary, a Hungarian representative and a Hungarian branch within 90 days of the license.
What did the EU Court of Justice decide about Hungary?
In Unibet (2017) and Sporting Odds (2018) the CJEU found Hungary’s licensing barriers incompatible with the freedom to provide services, including the requirement to hold a land-based concession for online gambling.
Will Hungary liberalize online gambling?
Possibly. After the April 2026 election the government began reviewing Szerencsejáték Zrt., the casino concessions and the SZTFH. A multi-license model is widely expected, but no draft law has been published.
What is the minimum gambling age in Hungary?
18 for online and land-based gambling. Players can register in the SZTFH player protection register to exclude themselves.
Can a Malta-licensed operator serve Hungarian players?
No. Foreign licenses are not recognized. The SZTFH blocks unlicensed websites and advertising pages and keeps a register of prohibited payment accounts.
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