Hungary’s new government has indicated that public media, cultural funding and gambling oversight will be reviewed following the official appointment of ministers under Prime Minister Péter Magyar.

Parliamentary committee hearings pointed to planned tax changes, scrutiny of Szerencsejáték Zrt. and a broader effort to revisit state spending structures.

Zoltán Tarr, nominated to oversee social relations and culture, said the government would restructure public media, film, publishing and cultural funding mechanisms. The proposals follow criticism from domestic opposition groups and European Union institutions over media concentration and political influence during the Fidesz government.

Public broadcaster MTVA and state-aligned media groups have faced repeated accusations from watchdog organisations over editorial independence. The criticism has also covered alleged market distortion linked to state advertising allocations. 

Tarr said public media credibility needed to be restored and pledged to review funding structures, including the National Cultural Fund. 
 

State Lottery Scrutiny Widens

Newly appointed Finance Minister András Kármán said sectoral special taxes would be phased out gradually, including levies affecting the advertising and media industries. The Hungarian Advertising Association has renewed calls for the permanent abolition of the advertising tax after its current 0% rate was extended temporarily. 

Kármán also said the simplified kata taxation system would return after earlier restrictions affected freelancers and small businesses in the media sector. The tax proposals place media financing, small business rules and state revenue policy within the same reform agenda.

The hearings also covered Szerencsejáték Zrt., Hungary’s state-owned lottery operator. Kármán accused the company of using revenues for political messaging instead of transferring profits to the state treasury and promised more transparent oversight of state-owned enterprises. The comments add to scrutiny of Hungary’s gambling sector following recent regulatory interventions and public debate over lottery operations and casino ownership structures. 

Earlier in May, Szerencsejáték Zrt. launched an investigation into the integrity of its lottery draw systems after four jackpot wins in the same week prompted public concern. 

Hungary also tightened restrictions on Polymarket earlier this year over concerns linked to unlicensed gambling operations.

 

 

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