On October 2, Hungary’s Parliament voted in favour of the measures limiting the powers of SZTFH and dissolving its Concessions Council as the TISZA government reviews the management of gambling concessions and contracts, by 135 votes.
The motion was opposed by 46 members of parliament, with six others abstaining.
The legislation, T/639, was presented to parliament on September 8. It entails the passing of control of the concession agreements from the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH). The changes made would surge to dissolution of the authority’s Concessions Council, which was appointed during the time of the previous Fidesz regime.
The passage of the changes will remove the SZTFH from the necessity to oversee the concession tenders, the invitations to make offers and to approve exiting, amending and signing concession contracts.
As planned by the TISZA government, a review of the activities of the SZTFH in the field of gambling contracts will be done. The parties involved will be provided with a period of 30 days to provide the necessary information about the ownership and management of companies.
SZTFH has contradicted assertions of the role it played in the concession process, stating that it did not grant concessions because the authority belongs to a special governmental institution.
The government review is taking place alongside broader scrutiny of gambling concessions and contracts under the new administration. Hungary’s online gambling and sports betting reforms introduced in 2022 and 2023 also remain under scrutiny.
