Hungary’s government has launched a review of the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH), opening the possibility that the country’s gambling regulator could be abolished only five years after its creation.
The move follows Government Resolution 1277/2026, published in the Hungarian Gazette on 31 August. The measure calls for an examination of the SZTFH’s operations and the legislation governing the authority, including options for transferring its responsibilities to institutions operating under direct government control. Hungary’s justice minister has been instructed to report back by 30 September.
The review does not itself dissolve the authority, meaning the SZTFH continues to operate while the government considers possible structural changes. Alongside gambling, the regulator oversees several other controlled sectors, including tobacco-related activities and certain mining responsibilities.
The scrutiny comes shortly after the SZTFH awarded CAI Hungary Kft a 35-year casino concession without holding a public tender, adding to attention surrounding the regulator’s activities.
Responding to the government review, the SZTFH defended its record and stressed that it was established by Hungary’s parliament under Act XXXII of 2021 as an independent regulatory authority. Under the existing framework, it is governed by legislation and reports on its activities to parliament rather than directly to the government.
The authority pointed in particular to its enforcement against illegal online gambling operators. Its public register of blocked gambling websites contained more than 6,400 entries by the end of August 2026, reflecting the scale of its efforts to restrict access to unlicensed services.
The SZTFH also highlighted its work in tobacco regulation and the protection of minors, including inspections and action against illegal online retailers. It said it would cooperate fully with the government’s legal review.
Hungary’s gambling market has undergone substantial regulatory change during the SZTFH’s existence. Amendments that took effect in January 2023 ended the previous state monopoly over remote gambling and allowed eligible operators based in the European Economic Area to apply to the authority for licences.
The possible restructuring of the SZTFH forms part of a wider examination of state institutions by Hungary’s TISZA government. State-owned lottery and sports betting operator Szerencsejáték Zrt is also among the organisations facing review.
For the gambling industry, the key decision is now expected after the justice minister completes the assessment later in September, which should clarify whether the SZTFH will remain independent, be reorganised or have its duties reassigned.