Hungary's government is examining whether to abolish the gambling regulator SZTFH and transfer its functions to bodies under direct cabinet control. A resolution published in Magyar Közlöny on 31 August 2026 instructs the justice minister to submit a report by 30 September on how to dismantle the authority and redistribute its powers.
The move follows SZTFH's decision to grant CAI Hungary Kft a 35-year casino licence without a public tender. That decision raised questions and prompted the review of the regulator, which parliament established in 2021.
SZTFH has defended its record, citing progress against the black market. The authority says it is an independent body accountable only to parliament and points to results in removing unlicensed online operators and conducting tens of thousands of inspections in the tobacco sector, including blocking illegal web shops.
The review of SZTFH is part of a wider audit of state structures by the new government of the TISZA party (Party of Freedom and Reform). Szerencsejáték Zrt, the state company running lotteries and sports betting, is also under scrutiny. The situation reflects broader regulatory uncertainty across European gambling markets.
