On October 2, Hungary's Parliament approved new measures aimed at limiting the authority of the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH) and disbanding its Concessions Council. The vote concluded with 135 in favor, while 46 members opposed the motion and six abstained.
The legislation, labelled T/639, was introduced to Parliament on September 8. It involves transferring control of concession agreements from the SZTFH, a regulatory body tasked with oversight during the previous Fidesz government era. The modifications will eliminate the SZTFH's oversight of concession tenders and the power to issue invitations for bids as well as to approve changes to or sign existing concession contracts.
As part of its initiative, the TISZA government announced it will review the SZTFH's role in managing gambling contracts. Stakeholders will have a period of 30 days to submit essential details concerning the ownership and management of related companies.
In response to claims about its role in the concession process, the SZTFH clarified that it did not have the authority to grant concessions, as such powers lie with a specialized governmental institution. This review is part of a wide-ranging examination of gambling concessions and contracts by the new administration, coinciding with ongoing scrutiny of Hungary’s online gambling and sports betting reforms, which were initiated in 2022 and 2023.
