Hungary Reviews Possible Abolition of Gambling Regulator SZTFH
The Hungarian government is considering abolishing the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH), which oversees gambling, tobacco and mining in the country.
The government has asked Justice Minister Marta Gorog to prepare a report on whether the regulator could be closed and its responsibilities transferred to other government bodies. The report is due by September 30, 2026.
The review follows reports that SZTFH awarded CAI Hungary Kft. a 35-year concession to operate the Sopron casino until 2061 without a public tender.
SZTFH was established in October 2021 and currently employs more than 400 people. Its president, Laszlo Nagy, was appointed in 2024 for a nine-year term.
The regulator responded by stressing its status as an independent body established by the Hungarian Parliament under Act XXXII of 2021. It also pointed to its enforcement work against illegal online gambling operators and its activities in the tobacco sector.
SZTFH said it would fully cooperate with the government review and support the legal assessment while following the existing legal framework.
