The GVH and the SARA work closely together to protect Hungarian consumers
Budapest, November 22, 2024 - The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) and the Supervisory Authority for Regulatory Affairs of Hungary (SARA) are taking strict action against illegal online gambling operators who cheat Hungarian bettors. The two authorities have blocked several offending websites, making them inaccessible. The GVH and the SARA warn bettors to always be very careful when gambling online and to use only the services of licensed gambling operators registered in Hungary, as they can easily fall victim to scams.
Attention! The list of licensed gambling operators in Hungary is available on the SARA website.
In March 2024, the GVH closed its proceeding against the online gambling operator , Lottoland fantasy. The company, registered in Malta under the name Deutsche Lotto- und Sportwetten Limited, deceived consumers by coping some of Szerencsejáték Zrt.'s games either virtually one-to-one or with minimal changes to their names, leading consumers to believe that they were using the services provided by its competitor.
The Competition Council of the GVH imposed a fine of HUF 345 million on the company in view of the gravity of the infringement, its duration of several years, its intensity and the vulnerable consumer group due to gambling addiction. The SARA used its statutory remedy to block the website concerned for one year in September 2023. The Szerencsejáték Zrt. sued the operator of Lottoland for the infringing practices and won a final and binding trademark infringement lawsuit against it.
As the Maltese company did not voluntarily stop organising EUROJACKPOT and EUROJACKPOT GO during the competition proceeding, the GVH's Competition Council issued a decision prohibiting the company from organising these games and also requiring the company to confirm that it would no longer do so. In addition, on 12 April 2024, the GVH ordered the enforcement of the fine and the late payment penalty until the date of payment, as the company had failed to pay the fine imposed by the competition authority on time..
The GVH's investigation of compliance with the obligations in October found that the company had not ceased to organise illegal gambling and continued to organise EUROJACKPOT and EUROJACKPOT GO games. During the investigation, the GVH also found that the Maltese company had in the meantime set up new websites where it also made EUROJACKPOT and EUROJACKPOT GO games available.
As the company did not voluntarily comply with the obligations imposed by the GVH and continued its infringing activities, in order to protect consumers and fair and law-abiding businesses, the GVH - using its new powers effective from 1 March 2024 - ordered the blocking of all websites on which the company continued to organise EUROJACKPOT and EUROJACKPOT GO games.
The GVH, in close cooperation with the SCCC, is paying close attention to deceptive commercial practices in the gambling markets. In the context of this case, the GVH and the SZTFH remind consumers to always act with utmost care when using gambling services, to play only with a gambling service provider licensed in Hungary, to always inform themselves in detail about the terms and conditions of the services and to manage their savings responsibly.
The case’s reference number is: VJ/35/2022.
GVH Public Service Communications Section
Further information:
Bálint Horváth, Head of Communication +36 20 238 6939
Katalin Gondolovics, Spokesperson +36 30 603 1170