Hungary restricts online casino licenses to two terrestrial operators

According to Hungarian-focused news agency hvg.hu, the Hungarian parliament adopted an amendment to its Gambling Act Monday restricting online sports betting to state-owned Szerencsejáték Zrt., and online horse betting to state-owned Magyar Lóversenyfogadást Szervező Kft.

According to the report, online casino concessions are restricted to the only two Hungarian land casino operators owned by Andy Vajna, a Hungarian/American film producer and Government Commissioner for the Hungarian Film Industry; and Gabor Szima from Debrecen, the majority shareholder of DVSC Football Zrt.

The two men will effectively own the Hungarian online and terrestrial casino market with Vajna reportedly awarded 5 and Szima 2 free online casino concessions as an addition to their existing terrestrial concessions at no further charge.

The amendment, passed by a 126 to 65 vote in the National Assembly, will enter into force on October 1, 2015.