Hungary is weighing up the termination of its gambling regulator just five years after it was established. 

The Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH) has come under pressure after a resolution was published in Magyar Közlöny – the Hungarian Gazette – on 31 August 2026. 

It states that the government wants to examine the operation of the SZTFH and review the legislation to determine how the authority could be abolished and its functions transferred to bodies under direct government control. The Justice Minister has been given until 30 September 2026 to report back to the government.

It comes after a 35-year casino licence was granted to CAI Hungary Kft by the SZTFH without a public tender. 

In response to the government agreeing that “it is necessary to review the operation of the SZTFH”, the regulator has defended itself and cited its “significant” achievements, including its clampdown on the black market. 

SZTFH reminds Hungary’s government of recent results

The SZTFH said: “The SZTFH is an independent regulatory body established by the Parliament by Act XXXII of 2021 on the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities, which is subject only to legislation in terms of its activities and is solely accountable to the parliament for its operations.

“In the gambling sector, it has achieved significant results in eliminating illegal online game organisers, and in the tobacco market, it has contributed to the protection of young people by strengthening measures and regulatory solutions for the protection of minors, including through tens of thousands of traffic inspections, consistent regulatory action as a result of these, and the blocking of illegal webshops.

“The Regulated Activities Supervisory Authority will, of course, cooperate in every way with the minister designated in the Government Resolution in order to effectively complete the legal due diligence, taking full account of the applicable legal environment.”

The revelation comes amid a review by the new TISZA (Freedom and Reform Party) government on all state-run organisations, which includes national lottery and sports betting firm Szerencsejáték Zrt, with Hungary’s gambling landscape mirroring the uncertainty which has become prevalent across Europe.