SZTFH affirms its role in reliable oversight and regulation in Hungary

The Szabályozott Tevékenységek Felügyeleti Hatósága (SZTFH), established by Law XXXII of 2021, emphasizes that it maintains predictable and consistent regulatory oversight in key sectors of the Hungarian economy. The recent publication of the Hungarian Government, Decree 1277/2026 (VIII.31.), in the Magyar Közlöny of August 31, 2026, reaffirms its operational framework and cooperation with the relevant ministerial bodies. The SZTFH, as an independent regulatory entity, is only subject to existing legislation and is accountable exclusively to the Országgyűlés (Hungarian Parliament).

Institutional framework and principle of regulatory independence

Since its establishment on October 1, 2021, the SZTFH operates with full administrative independence as stipulated in its founding regulations. The authority strictly complies with its obligation to report to Parliament on its annual results and activities, reports that have been overwhelmingly supported at all levels by parliamentary committees.

In the context of European law, several state functions — including the supervision of regulated gaming and other sensitive sectors — require their execution to fall under independent authorities endowed with regulatory power. The Hungarian institutional structure meets this requirement by placing such responsibilities in autonomous bodies like the SZTFH.

Economic impact of the sectors under the SZTFH

The SZTFH supervises strategic sectors defined by the legislator as crucial for the national economy. The sectors under its purview, mostly consisting of small and medium-sized companies with Hungarian capital, generate several tens of trillions of forints in annual revenue and provide direct employment to more than 50,000 Hungarian citizens. The tax revenues and state contributions from these sectors alone exceed 1,000,000 million forints per year, constituting an essential pillar for financing public services.

Regulatory outcomes in the gaming sector and other areas

The SZTFH has implemented regulatory and supervisory initiatives to ensure legality, market stability, and the protection of public interest. In the gambling sector, the authority has made significant advances by excluding illegal online gaming operators. In the tobacco domain, it has strengthened protections for minors by conducting tens of thousands of inspections of retail establishments (trafik), taking action against unauthorized sellers, and blocking illegal websites. In mining and geothermal energy, the SZTFH developed a new framework for efficient regulation of geothermal activities. It also established an innovative ESG ecosystem to improve the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of domestic companies.

Cybersecurity and national audit

In cybersecurity, the participation of the SZTFH enabled Hungary to establish one of the first national auditing frameworks in the European Union. According to a recent publication by the SZTFH itself, nearly 90% of economic actors involved have satisfactorily passed the audit requirements.

Transparency, institutional cooperation, and long-term vision

The SZTFH emphasizes the formation of a multidisciplinary team of over 400 professionals with internationally recognized expertise. This has allowed it to effectively integrate into the state administration and promote cooperation with analogous foreign authorities. The agency always operates in accordance with legal limits, prioritizing the public interest, legal security, and the long-term economic interests of Hungary.

The authority confirms that it will fully collaborate with the appointed minister in Decree 1277/2026 to ensure an effective legal review. All actions are framed within current regulations, reinforcing transparency and predictability in the regulation of supervised sectors such as gaming, tobacco, geological activity, and cybersecurity. The effective implementation of these measures positions the SZTFH as a national and international benchmark in regulatory matters.