Online casinos are legal in Hungary and operate under a regulated framework overseen by the Supervisory Authority for Regulatory Affairs (SARA). The Hungarian gambling sector is governed by Act XXXIV of 1991 on Gambling Operations, commonly known as the Gambling Act, which has undergone significant amendments to liberalize the market (1). Hungary transitioned from a state monopoly system to allow private operators, with major regulatory changes taking effect on January 1, 2023, that ended the online betting monopoly and permitted licensed operations by European Economic Area operators (2).
The regulatory framework requires all online gambling operators to obtain proper licensing from SARA to legally operate within Hungarian jurisdiction. The Hungarian gambling authority maintains strict oversight over the industry, with comprehensive licensing requirements that include proof of financial stability, software audits, and operational compliance (1). All gambling services accessible from Hungarian IP addresses are subject to Hungarian laws regardless of the website's language or other characteristics, ensuring comprehensive regulatory coverage (1).
"As of July 2023, SARA, in cooperation with financial institutions, started to apply payment blocking to restrict transactions on any payment account used to receive bets for or pay winnings from unlicensed gambling operations."
The Hungarian government has implemented robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with gambling regulations. SARA actively monitors the market and works with financial institutions to block payments to unlicensed operators, demonstrating the authority's commitment to maintaining a regulated environment (2). Licensed online casinos in Hungary can offer various games including slots, poker, blackjack, and other traditional casino games, providing Hungarian players with safe and legal gambling options under proper regulatory supervision.
Source:
https://iclg.com/practice-areas/gambling-laws-and-regulations/hungary
https://sztfh.hu/supervision-of-gambling/?lang=en
Last updated: 26-07-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
