Hungary: SZTFH and GVH Sign Cooperation Deal to Boost Market Oversight

Hungary's Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH) and the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) have signed a formal cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening joint enforcement across regulated markets, including online gambling.

What the Agreement CoversThe deal, signed by the presidents of both authorities, establishes a framework for coordinated action across several key areas:

Illegal gambling content: Joint takedown of unlicensed gambling and tobacco product advertising appearing on social media platformsAccelerated sector investigations in industries including mining and constructionESG compliance: Aligning corporate risk management systems with sustainability reporting requirementsBuilding on Existing Joint EnforcementThe two authorities have previously collaborated on multiple enforcement actions, including blocking illegal online gambling websites and cracking down on businesses illegally distributing smoking-simulating devices. The new agreement is designed to institutionalise and deepen that cooperation.

SZTFH President Dr. László Nagy emphasised that modern markets increasingly present structural competition distortions that cannot be attributed to a single violation. A December 2025 amendment to Hungary's law on unfair market conduct and competition restrictions now gives regulators tools to act preventively, before problems escalate.

Focus on Vulnerable ConsumersGVH President Csaba Balázs Rigó highlighted the agreement's importance for protecting vulnerable groups — including the elderly, children, problem gamblers, and those with addiction issues — who are disproportionately targeted by violations in regulated sectors.

For operators active in the Hungarian market, the agreement signals closer coordination between the regulator overseeing gambling licences and the authority policing market conduct. Enforcement actions relating to illegal online gambling promotion, particularly via social media, are expected to intensify as a direct result of the partnership.