Has gambling changed in Hungary in the six months since Orbán lost election?
Hungary's gambling market has seen institutional changes but no wholesale opening to international operators six months after Orbán's election loss.Summary
Six months after Péter Magyar's Tisza party defeated Viktor Orbán in Hungary's April 2026 election, the gambling market remains largely restricted despite institutional changes. The new government, holding a parliamentary supermajority, has initiated a review of the Supervisory Authority for Regulatory Affairs (SZTFH), stripping its concession-related powers effective October 2026, though the regulator has not been fully abolished. While online sports betting was formally liberalized in 2023, the market remains concentrated around established operators, with online casino tied to land-based concessions. Legal analysis from DLA Piper and market data from Blask indicate that political change has not yet produced a fully competitive market. For international bookmakers, key milestones remain concrete amendments to the Gambling Act, new licensing rules, and official announcements about the regulator's replacement. For Hungarian players, enforcement powers—including website blocking and payment restrictions—continue under the existing framework.
(Source：Times Of Malta)