Popular international brands come through EU licences

Introduction: "European background" as a pass to Budapest

After the reforms of 2022-2023. the Hungarian online market has rebuilt: remote sports betting is open to private companies from the EU/EEA, if they meet strict requirements for experience, capital and compliance. As a result, well-known European brands that have already been tested in other jurisdictions enter the market. Their EU licenses are not "certified" directly (there is no single pan-European "passporting" in gambling), but they serve as proof of maturity: many years of experience, RG/KYC procedures, platform audit, working with licensed PSPs - all this increases the chances of successfully passing Hungarian admission.

What exactly "gives" the EU license to the brand

Track record and trust. Work in regulated EU/EEA countries confirms process maturity: anti-fraud, AML, reporting, RG.

Technical readiness. RNG/platform auditing, secure infrastructure, live telemetry and payout stability.

Organizational discipline. Incident, data protection (GDPR) policies, trained compliance teams.

Payment ecosystem. Relations with banks and licensed payment institutions in Europe.

💡 Important: even with a strong EU portfolio, the brand must obtain Hungarian permission (and open a branch), and not "enter" with a foreign license.

What is open and what is not

Open: from 2023 - remote sports betting for private companies from the EU/EEA when fulfilling requirements (experience, capital, branch, RG/KYC, technical standards).

Closed: The online casino remains tied to a land concession in Hungary. "Purely online" licenses for casinos are not issued to third-party companies.

Hence - a typical pattern: betting brands come "through the EU background" and localize the product, and casino brands are represented through operators who have a local offline concession (and only then - their online).

Entrance Architecture: International Brand Steps

1. EU/EEA structure + Hungarian branch. Registration of local representative office, appointment of responsible persons.

2. Experience and finances. Confirmation of long-term licensed experience, authorized capital and collateral by thresholds.

3. Compliance circuit. KYC/AML policies, risk assessment procedures, RG tools (limits, pauses, self-exclusion), log logs.

4. Technical circuit. Live reliability (low latency, persistent sockets), data protection, RNG/module audit, uptime and payout SLAs.

5. Payments. Contracts with licensed PSPs, transparent transaction statuses in the office, backup rails in case of incidents.

6. Marketing and advertising. Strict age and RG requirements, fair promo conditions without "small print," affiliate control.

How brands adapt the product to Hungary

Local painting. Bets on Hungarian leagues and national teams, special markets "for their own," local derby in live.

Language and UX. Complete localization of the interface, support, bonus rules - in Hungarian, without ambiguities.

Responsible practices. Default limits, simple "timeouts," visible time and expense statistics.

Payout rate. Public SLA landmarks, "en route" statuses, notifications of each step.

Why "EU licenses" are visible to the player (albeit indirectly)

The player does not read by-laws - he feels the difference in quality:

Steady live and neat odds in peak matches;
Transparent payments without "quests" and dark patterns;
Honest promos: conditions immediately on the first screen;
Intelligible support and operation of RG tools "in one or two taps."

This is a consequence of the very European "background" - when processes have long been honed in other countries.

Entry risks and how to remove them

Peak loads (derby/playoffs). Stress tests, CDN/edge, interface degradation plan (coefficients → text/pause), anti-abuse limits.

Payout reputation. Reserve PSPs, "live" operation status, SLA dashboard, clear KYC regulations.

Advertising and affiliates. Only white sites, uniform layouts with RG disclaimers, partner audits and the closure of "gray" creatives.

Privacy/GDPR. Data minimization, retention, encryption, incident response plan.

Check sheets

For operator (brand)

1. Check EU/EEA compliance and confirm years of experience.

2. Open a branch in Hungary, provide capital/guarantees.

3. Set up RG/KYC: default limits, timeout, self-exclusion, risk triggers.

4. Update mobile UX: fast start, reliable coupon, cashout, clear transaction statuses.

5. Close the payment loop: contracts with PSP, SLA for withdrawal, backup channels.

6. Approve the marketing code: 18 +, fair promo terms, affiliate control.

For the player

1. Play with licensed brands; age 18 +.

2. Include deposit/time limits; use "timeout."

3. Compare the line and margin of 2-3 operators before the match.

4. Check payment rules and KYC thresholds prior to deposit.

5. Play is entertainment, not income: keep the budget and pauses.

Mini-FAQ

Why do brands need EU licenses if they still need Hungarian ones?

Because it is reputation and readiness: experience, audit, processes that are easier for the regulator to verify and accredit.

Is it possible to "go" online casino without offline in Hungary?

No, it isn't. Online casinos are the prerogative of local land concession holders. For "clean" online casinos, the market is closed.

Why do several familiar brands appear in the rates at once?

Since 2023, remote rates have been open to private EU/EEA companies - competition is growing, but with a high compliance bar.

The entry formula is simple: EU-experience + Hungarian permission. EU licenses do not replace local ones, but make the brand more reliable and faster in passing requirements: such companies already have the RG/KYC discipline, a proven technical platform and payment hygiene. In betting (from 2023), this paved the way for international names; in the casino, everything is still tied to a land concession within the country. For players, this means more choice and service quality, for the market - competition "in the white field" under strict supervision.