As regulated gambling markets continue to develop, player protection is becoming a main part of how operators build and manage their products. It is no longer something...
Hungary’s new government to review gambling regulations
With the election of Péter Magyar as Hungary’s new Prime Minister, the incoming government has revealed plans to review gambling regulations, public media, and cultural funding.
In April 2026, Hungary voted to replace the previous government led by Viktor Orbán, which was in power for over 20 years, in an effort to reform sectors that were viewed as not appropriately independent. During the parliamentary committee hearings, Magyar’s ministerial nominees announced plans to introduce changes in the media and cultural sectors, as well as the gambling sector, including the state-owned Szerencsejáték Zrt. lottery operator.
Despite both land-based and online gambling being legal in the country, Hungary has strict restrictions on foreign operators’ entry into the market, with the Supervisory Authority of Regulated Activities reporting that no licenses have been issued. As a result of this, the channelisation rate in the country is at 54%, with data showing that there are 72 offshore operators targeting Hungarian players.
András Karmán, the nominee for Finance Minister, shared that the newly elected government has launched investigations into Szerencsejáték’s operations, believing that the lottery used revenue to fund political messaging instead of sending the money to the state treasury. Karmán assured that supervision of state-owned enterprises will become more transparent, as there have also been concerns about casino ownership structures and the integrity of lottery draw systems.
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