Hungary and Its Online Gambling Regulations

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Deni

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Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Hi, I'm Deni! I'm a research obsessive with a passion for gambling regulations, market trends, and casino news. I dig deep into every topic I cover - so every article, review, or guide I write is built on solid research and real detail.

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Published: August 3, 2020
Updated: April 2, 2026

For people across the globe, online gambling remains one of the most attractive forms of entertainment. You can indulge in great games from wherever you desire, while you play for the chance to cash in on some big wins.

Despite the allure, many countries have gone out of their way to ban this form of entertainment. On the other hand, others choose to legalise it and help the country’s annual income.

Online gambling regulations in Hungary — Regulations and laws regarding online gambling in Hungary

In this guide, we take you through the current laws and legislation about online gambling in Hungary. Read on to learn whether or not you are able to play safely and legally at local and foreign sites there:

History and laws of gambling in Hungary

Where some countries have had a long legal battle with gambling, Hungary is one of those where it has been legal to gamble since 1991. It all started with the implementation of the Gambling Act.

Land-based gambling was then regulated by the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary (the NAV).
Online gambling only became legal in the country in 2013 and was also controlled by the NAV (which is in turn governed by the state-owned company, Szerencsejáték Zrt).

For a long period of time, foreign gambling companies and EU officials negotiated with government officials in an attempt to open the Hungarian online gambling market. The EU found the Hungarian regulations too strict, which made entering the market nearly impossible.

The Gambling Act was amended in 2013 and 11 operators acquired an online casino licence.

Licences are divided into three classes. For each of those, operators have to meet certain requirements before they qualify. Casinos are also limited to a certain number of gambling machines per category.

In the middle of 2017, the EU's top court slammed Hungary’s restrictive online gambling laws. It stated that their laws prevented them from taking action against gambling operators with licenses from other EU countries.

The very first online casino was opened in the second half of 2017 by LVC Diamond Kft.

However, the state still has a monopoly on all forms of the lottery (including online and lottery-type games) and sports betting.

At the beginning of 2018, there were major talks about the case against Sporting Odds Ltd, which was offering services to Hungarian citizens without a local licence.

The Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU) ruled in favour of the operator, saying that the refusal of government officials to grant any licences to operators that don’t own a land-based casino was excessive. It also went against EU rules and legislation.

Currently, there are many disputes, especially between government officials and the EU. The Hungarian government seems determined to keep a state monopoly on the gambling market. With the CJEU’s ruling, however, foreign online casino operators are less afraid of offering their services to Hungarian citizens.

As of 2023, some additional amendments came into effect.

To attain authorisation from SZTFH, all operators must have at least five years of previous experience in offering online gaming services in the European Economic Area.
It also allows players to participate using multiple balances with the same operator. They will also be able to cash out early in applicable circumstances.
Local financial institutions place a block on all payments to unauthorised gambling sites.

There is hope that Hungary will eventually loosen up and open its market to foreign operators, as this will be beneficial to the country, especially in terms of revenue. However, for now, it seems that Hungary is even more determined to shut down any illegal casinos and gambling activities.

Are online gambling winnings taxable in Hungary?

Luckily, players are not required to pay taxes on any land-based or online casino winnings. Thus, you get to keep your winnings without having to worry about declaring them as income tax or paying a steep tax percentage on them.

However, if you play at unlicensed sites, your potential winnings are considered income and you have to pay taxes on them (between 9% and 15%).

For online casino operators, unfortunately, this is not the case. It is clear that Hungary aims to keep a tight grip on the online gambling market, and aims to keep foreign operators at bay.

Hungary has made its tax rates incredibly high. Operators are also required to pay hefty fees when applying for a licence. The fees and tax rates are just part of what makes the Hungarian online gambling market less alluring for foreign operators.

The country opened its borders in 2023 for applications from offshore sites, but up until late 2025, no one has applied. This speaks of the complex barriers companies have to overcome to join the market.

Is online gambling legal in Hungary?

Online gambling has been legal in Hungary since 2013. Unfortunately, the laws and regulations make it extremely difficult for foreign online casino operators to enter the market.

That being said, there are still top online casinos that Hungarian residents can access freely.

With the current laws and regulations being looked down on by the EU, it is also easy for foreign operators licensed in other EU countries to provide their services to Hungarian players. While the Hungarian government tries to block and penalise these operators, the CJEU comes to their aid.

Just make sure that if you play at an international online casino to choose only ones with a valid international license. Plus, it'd be nice to come vetted and reviewed by a casino reviews site you can trust.

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By Deni

Verified Casino Expert

Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Learn about our Review Process

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Last updated: April 2, 2026

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Hungary - online gambling regulations

Contents

Contents

History and laws of gambling in Hungary

Are online gambling winnings taxable in Hungary?