Online bingo is permitted in Hungary but subject to strict licensing requirements under the 1991 Law on Gambling and subsequent amendments (1). Online casino games, which include online bingo and card games, may be operated only by licensees authorized to operate land-based casinos in Hungary, requiring operators to offer online casino games through the same licensed company operating the physical casino (2). The monopoly right to open an online casino belongs to the state, with companies required to have a legal address in Hungary and licenses valid for 5 years (1).
The Gambling Supervision Department, part of the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration, serves as the regulatory body responsible for overseeing the gambling market, issuing licenses, and ensuring compliance with gambling legislation (1). On January 1, 2023, amendments to Hungary's gambling regulatory framework ended the online betting monopoly previously held by Szerencsejáték Zrt., allowing operators located in the European Economic Area to apply for online betting licenses through Hungarian registered representatives (2). However, online casino operations including bingo remain highly restricted, requiring land-based casino authorization as a prerequisite (2).
"Online casino games including card games may be operated only by licensees authorised to operate land-based casinos in Hungary, by offering the online casino games through the same licensee company as is operating the land-based casino."
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in 2018 that Hungarian law requiring operators to have a land-based casino to receive an online casino license constitutes an unjustifiable restriction on the freedom to provide services under Article 56 of the TFEU (2). Despite this ruling, Hungarian authorities continue to use criminal and administrative law instruments against gambling operators engaging in activities without valid licenses, though the gambling authority suspended blocking most unlicensed gaming sites except known fraudulent sites for technical reasons (2). Players must be at least 18 years old to engage in gambling activities, and the Hungarian gambling authority has the right to order ISPs to block unlicensed gambling websites and impose fines on advertisers promoting unlicensed gambling (1)(2).
Source:
https://www.gga.org.ge/en/world/36
https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-online-gambling-regulation-in-europe/hungary
Last updated: 28-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
