Supervision of Gambling
In its capacity as the gaming supervisory authority, SARA is responsible for the licensing, official control, supervision and regulation of the organisation of gambling. SARA acts as a consumer protection authority in the supervision of gambling advertising (in the cases specified in the Advertising Act) and is active in the fight against illegal gambling in its market surveillance capacity. With regard to gambling operators, SARA also monitors compliance with relevant regulations on the fight against money laundering, the financing of terrorism and proliferation.
Any activity that can be considered a contest of chance (gambling) under the Gambling Act is subject to authorisation by SARA. A contest of chance is defined as any contest or game in which the player agrees to pay cash or other consideration for the opportunity to participate and to receive a cash prize or something of value in the event of a certain outcome or a future contingent event. Winning or loosing depends exclusively, or in a material degree, upon an element of chance.
In Hungary, depending on the specific type of gambling in question, gambling activities can be organised by a state-owned gambling operator, a private company that meets certain requirements, or are subject to a concession. Under the current system, only the organisation of raffles, the operation of card rooms, and, as of 1 January 2023, remote gambling are liberalised activities. The liberalisation of remote gambling has opened up the possibility for any company from Hungary or any EEA member state to organise remote gambling on the territory of Hungary, provided that it meets all the legal requirements set out in the Gambling Act and secondary legislation.
The official licensing and control of gambling contributes significantly to the strengthening of SARA’s market surveillance activities, which aim to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the market, protect the interests of players and enhance confidence in the market.
With the introduction of concessions for the majority of gambling operations, state control increased significantly after 2010. The sector became more transparent and generated increasing tax revenues. In addition, significant progress has been made in effectively tackling the risk of excessive gambling through the closure of gaming halls with slot machines and the improvement of player protection measures.
SARA maintains a public register of licensed gambling operators. Participation in unauthorized gambling is at the player’s own risk.
Combatting illegal gambling
SARA continuously monitors illegal online gambling, imposes sanctions and orders the blocking of the unlicensed gambling websites, as well as websites that publish an offer to participate in illegal gambling or illegal advertising, or can be considered as intermediaries of unlicensed gambling services. In the case of those websites that attempt to circumvent blocking measures previously applied by SARA, simplified tracking measures are applied: if SARA finds that the same illegal activity by the same operator continues after the completion of the administrative proceedings concluded in the resolution, it only sends the data necessary to block the illegal electronic data to the National Media and Infocommunications Authority and does not start a new administrative procedure.
As of July 2023, SARA, in cooperation with financial institutions, started to apply payment blocking to restrict transactions on any payment account used to receive bets for or pay winnings from unlicensed gambling operations. In addition, according to the payment blocking scheme, payment service providers should reject the transaction if the payment transaction is linked to a commercial category related to gambling via a country code other than Hungary (blocking of debit/credit card payments). Based on the regulation, the payment service provider may only open or provide a payment account for a gambling operator if the activity has been licensed by SARA.
SARA publishes the blacklist of blocked websites and payment accounts on its website.
Player protection
Gambling is a form of entertainment, but excessive gambling might have serious consequences and it can lead to problem gambling. Gambling addiction is a disorder that can harm the gambler as well as his or her family and social relationships.
An important element of player protection measures is the classification of responsible gambling operator. The classification indicates to players that the gambling organizer operates in accordance with the principles of responsible gambling, is committed to reducing the harmful effects of gambling, and provides players with additional player protection tools beyond the mandatory measures.
To promote consumer and player protection, SARA operates a Player Protection Green Number (+36 80 205 352) for reports, complaints and recommendations. The green number is available 24 hours a day and is free of charge.
All gambling operators are required to display the Player Protection Green Number on their website and, with the exception of remote gambling and online casino operators, at the point of entry, point of sale and cashier.
As of 1 January 2016, a significant self-restriction declaration can be made for gambling activities that require identification. The declaration will exclude the player from entering casinos, card rooms, registering with and accessing remote gambling and online casino gaming sites for the period specified in the declaration. On the basis of the significant self-limitation statement, the player will be recorded in the Player Protection Register maintained by SARA. Licensed gambling operators may only provide access to gambling (subject to personal identification) to players who are not listed in the Player Protection Register. The same prohibition applies to persons who have been placed under guardianship by the court which completely restricts their capacity to act, or whose capacity to act has been partially restricted by the court with respect to their gambling-related statements.