Banki Erik, FIDESZ member and the presenter of the online gambling act modifications revealed the following: his proposal focuses on the online gambling market, and the clean up in the organizing of remote gambling activities. Within the meaning of his motions, only organisations that have a valid license which empowers them to organize casino games, would be able to operate legally in the Hungarian online gambling market.
This declaration comes as an explanation for the modifications that were proposed at the meeting held yesterday(23.04.2015) in the Hungarian Parliament, at which the opposition accused that these modification are meant for only two benefitors which already hold legal licenses and are members of FIDESZ. The two license holders are Andy Vajna and Szima Gabor.
The modifications target online gambling operators that still accept Hungarian players and are accessible from the territory of Hungary by the players.he only online gambling activities that will be allowed must have a Hungarian IP and have a license to operate, added the politician.
This measure comes to bring back the loss gained from the “black” market. Based on the Hungarian Ministry of Economy, the modification and restrictions would bring a rise of 20-25% to the already active 40 Billion Hungarian Forint(around 13 Billion Euros) income taxes generated by the current law.
The Minister of the Hungarian National Economy Ministry, Mr. Tallai Andras declared that the government agrees with the discussion of the modifications and the parliament should take the modification into consideration. He also indicated that this is a technical modification to the current law and the European Commission should be notified of the changes. This way the final vote regarding the changes can be held within 3 months.
However, the changes in the law were not received well by the opposing parties, each of them accusing the amendments politically and acussing of course that this will bring more wealth to the mentioned license holders.
We are not going to add the comments because it’s plain silly what the politicians were saying and commenting from sides of MSZP, Jobbik and LMP. This is a sign that there is a highly competitive opposition in Hungary against the governing party FIDESZ and that doesn’t relate to the modifications and the regulation of the online gambling market. It is just an ugly approach by the opposing parties and we condemn it. The legal online gambling Act. should not focus on how to accuse to opposing party with political allegations, it should focus on a greater and more team spirited cause to finally legalize Hungary’s online gambling market.
The debate was intense and Hiller Istvan, the chairman of the Parliament, had to step in to stop the over heated argument’s. Banki Erik stated that during the debate, none of the opposing parties speakers were really interested in the changes, they just had the chance to throw something against us.
He added that on the Hungarian gambling market there is only one player and that is the Szerencsejatek Zrt., the government-owned organization, and there are only foreign online gambling operators that accept Hungarian players illegally. The modifications were meant to eradicate this presence of foreign operators and would give a chance to Hungarian companies to get involved and attract revenues, benefiting the state from the income taxes.
Mr. Banki also added that the changes aren’t meant to benefit any individuals already involved in the gambling activity and are part of FIDESZ, doesn’t aim a change to the status of the Szerencsejatekok Zrt.’s already highly debated monopoly over the Hungarian gambling market and he hasn’t been bought by anybody, accusing the socialist opposition about the clearance of the VAT from local licenses was their decision.
