Hungary`s Legal Gambling Market Thrives Amidst Crackdown on Illegal Sites

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Hungary's legal gambling market is experiencing a significant uplift in turnover, a direct result of the relentless efforts by the Regulated Activities Supervisory Authority (SZTFH). Since 2014, the SZTFH and its predecessor have been actively blocking illicit online gambling websites, effectively preventing them from reaching Hungarian players and thereby "whitewashing" the nation's online gambling landscape.

With over two thousand blockings ordered in 2024 and 2025 alone, this aggressive strategy has led to a sharp increase in both traffic and revenue within the legal market. This marks a substantial improvement compared to the pervasive presence of illegal operations in previous years. A key objective for the SZTFH is to take decisive action against unlicensed online gambling providers and the prohibited advertising sites that promote them.

Recent legislative changes have played a crucial role, accelerating and broadening the scope of these blocking procedures. The Authority can now extend its measures to include advertising and contributing sites. Furthermore, new capabilities allow the SZTFH to track and immediately block illegal sites that frequently switch domain names to evade detection. Thanks to these legal advancements and the Authority's intensive efforts, the number of visits to illegal gambling sites has now decreased significantly.

The SZTFH emphasizes the critical importance of engaging solely with licensed operators. When services are offered by unlicensed organizers, the Authority cannot enforce player protection guarantee rules, and prize payment claims cannot be pursued in Hungarian courts. These unlicensed entities also undermine the economic interests of the Hungarian State. Additionally, by not participating in the Authority's hungarian player protection register—which prevents voluntarily or legally excluded players from gambling—they hinder the effective enforcement of player protection goals.

Committed to eradicating illegal gambling and enhancing the competitiveness of the Hungarian market, the SZTFH will continue its intensive blocking activities. This effort, driven by innovative solutions, aims to safeguard Hungarian players' interests. Players can find information on licensed gambling organizers and illegal sites blocked by the Authority on its official website.