The Hungarian government is debating proposals to open a tender process for new casinos in the country in an attempt to stem the rise of illegal gambling.
The proposal put forward by Mihály Varga, the Minister for National Economy, would allow for the construction of up to 10new Class II casinos with a limited number of slot machines.
The 2012 slot machine ban has not only driven consumers to the illegal market, but has also caused a drop in government tax revenue of €11m from November 2012 to January 2013.
The opening of the new casinos would be a boon for the country’s slot machine industry, according to Iványi György, vice-president of the Hungarian Gaming Manufacturers Association.
Hungary’s slot machine industry has been virtually non-existent since last year’s ban with many thousands of illegal machines being imported into the country from neighbouring Slovenia and Slovakia.
