Casino sites in Hungary

Population: 9,8 million
Active Players: 3,5 million
Currency:  Hungarian Forint (HUF)
Regulated Gambling Products: Casino, Sports Betting, Lottery – State Monopoly
Operator Types: Online and land-based casinos, bookmakers, betting shops, foreign online casinos operating without a license
Designated Authority: National Tax and Customs Administration  (NTCA)
Status: Regulated

Located in South-East Europe, Hungary is one of the oldest countries in Europe. Once part of the powerful Austro-Hungarian Empire, the country is now a democratic parliamentary republic. The Magyar online casino landscape sets an example of how local authorities can impose a monopoly despite repeated intervention from the EC and EU. The convoluted procedures for obtaining a license and high taxation levels kept foreign operators outside of the country. Also, as it’s often the case for markets with a state monopoly, the ISPs are forced to block unlicensed operators’ domains. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the online casino Hungary blacklist is ever-growing. Looking at the above facts, it’s safe to say that players browsing the online casino Magyar offer won’t have too many options to choose from. That’s why we put together this article with helpful information for those looking for a top casino in Hungary. 

Did You Know That?

• The legal gambling age in Hungary is 18
• Online gambling is only legal at licensed operators
• There’s just one licensed online casino in the country, owned by a politically-tied Hungarian entrepreneur
• There are no taxes players need to pay for online gambling winnings
• The Hungarian gambling monopoly continues to this day despite constant pressure from the EU

Casino Sites in Hungary

As you’ve already learned, the two options you have for enjoying a casino from Hungary are:

• Vegas.hu – the only licensed online casino 
• International online casino operators accepting Magyar players

Legal Casino Sites in Hungary

With literally no competition in place, Vegas.hu has full control of the online casino environment. And as if a monopoly isn’t bad enough, the lack of competition also means low bonuses and less-qualitative services for casino enthusiasts – only a handful of software providers available. So, while Vegas.hu is the sole official online operator, you won’t need to ask too many players to find out it’s not the best online casino Hungary has to offer. 

International Casino Sites in Hungary

Faced with the lack of quality online gambling services caused by the strict monopoly in place, Magyar casino players turn their attention towards the established foreign operators. Even though big names such as Bwin, Unibet, or Ladbrokes are already present on the blacklist of banned domains, international online casinos continue accepting players from Hungary. So, to be able to enjoy a decent offer of online slots and table games, together with fair promotions for your deposits, choose the likes of Play Ojo or RedKings. 

Welcome Bonuses and Deposit Limits

No matter if you play at the only casino from Hungary to have a license or you go for the services of international operators, getting the best possible welcome bonus should be a priority. A 100% match bonus on your first deposit is quite common on both sets of operators but the difference is made by the maximum bonus you can get with it. If the locally-licensed casino offer you a maximum limit of 50,000 HUF, international operators can take double that amount. Also, the minimum deposit amount to claim the welcome offer at the local online casino is 10,000 HUF opposed to €10 at offshore casinos. 

Casinos with HUF

Hungarian players won’t have much luck finding the HUF currency at international casinos. Since the Hungarian Forint isn’t a widely used currency, you won’t find it beyond the local operator. However, playing in EUR or USD is quite easy and chances are slim to find a casino accepting Hungary players that applies a currency exchange fee. 

How to Deposit and Withdraw on Hungarian Casino Sites?

No matter if you’ve set your mind for a desktop or mobile casino, Hungary isn’t exactly a gambling market that spoils players with deposit and withdrawal options. On top of that, the state also imposed restrictions for card and bank transfer transactions towards foreign casino operators. 

Bank Transfer

Magyar players wanting to top-up their casino account via bank transfer have Simplepay to rely on. An app developed by OTP, the main bank in the country, Simplepay facilitates deposits and withdrawals directly from a bank account.

eWallet Options

eWallets are the only payment methods available for Magyar players that want to play at foreign online casinos. Both Skrill and Neteller can be used for online gambling transactions by local players and remain the go-to withdrawal option for their processing speed.

Mobile Payments

When talking about mobile payment solutions dedicated to Hungary’s casino players, we have to mention Telenor and Telekom. Both can be used to pay by phone, however, only to the licensed casino operators.

Cryptocurrency

Looking for cryptocurrency online gambling in Hungary is hopeful more than anything. The monopoly and overall conservative approach of Hungarian authorities make crypto casinos a utopia in the country. However, using a VPN, Magyar casino enthusiasts can enjoy the services of cryptocurrency pioneers like FortuneJack or Bitstarz.

How to Create and Verify Your Account on Hungarian Casino Sites

Leaving aside the limited options for enjoying high-quality casino services, the process of registering an account is pretty straightforward for Hungarian players. Both the locally-licensed online casino and international venues have a similar procedure in place:

• Open the casino website or app and click/tap on the “Sign In” button
• Next, you’re asked for an Email address and to also to confirm the given address
• Finish the form by choosing and confirming a password, as well as selecting the preferred Nickname and inserting your DOB
• Once all fields are correctly inserted, click “Next”
• In this last window, you’re given the possibility to insert a promotional code if that’s the case
• Check the boxes confirming you’re over 18 years of age and agree with the T&C and privacy policy and choose if you want to receive promotional offers from the casino
• An extra step that appears only on Vegas.hu is checking a box confirming you’re NOT a politically exposed person – we are not sure we want to know what’s the purpose of this box
• Press or tap on “Register” once more and your account is created on the spot

There’s a standard KYC procedure in place at all licensed online casinos. So, no matter if you play at the one licensed by the local authorities or at any international operator with an MGA/UKGC/Gibraltar, or Curacao license, you’ll have to verify your account at some point. It’s better to take it out of the way and avoid possible delays when scoring your first win. Just take photos or scan your national ID or a driver’s license, a recent utility bill with your name and address on it, and also take photos of both sides of the debit/credit card used to deposit if that’s the case for you. Submit these documents to support or look for the dedicated Verification section on the casino you chose and upload them there to add another layer of security to your account.

What Can We Expect from Hungarian Gambling Law Changes?

Without any trace of ill intentions, the most straightforward answer to this question would be “nothing special”. Even the EC and EU canceled the infringement procedures against EU states that didn’t adhere to the shared principles of an open market and competition. Also, the lobby groups formed to put pressure on the local authorities were discouraged by the harsh fines and penalties handed by the Hungarian state to the likes of Sportingbet back in 2018. To all that, add the serious decline of democracy in the Magyar state that ultimately led to the Freedom House describing Hungary as “no longer a democracy”. Considering all aspects, there’s no way anyone could hope to see a change for the best in Hungary’s approach towards online gambling, and players are left with the international casinos that keep accepting players from the region.