How to Drive iGaming Traffic to Hungary: A Guide and Detailed GEO Overview

The 888STARZ affiliate program has officially received a license to operate in Hungary! This is a crucial step not only for us but also for you, as it opens up access for our partners to this promising and highly profitable market. We have prepared a detailed overview of this GEO to mark this occasion. In this article, the 888STARZ Partners team will cover all the key features of the GEO, strategy selection, and the nuances of launching ad campaigns for successful arbitrage in Hungary.

General Characteristics of Hungary

Hungary is a dynamically developing Central European country with a population of about 9.5 million people. The country’s GDP is approximately $240 billion. Although Hungary is classified as Tier 2, the income level is impressive by local standards: the average salary ranges from $1,500 to $2,000. A stable and growing economy makes Hungary one of the most attractive GEOs for iGaming beginners, as there is currently less competition from major global players.

Additionally, Hungary is very popular among tourists, so you can successfully drive traffic localized to virtually any European country and diverse target audiences. The most in-demand social networks are the same as in the rest of Europe: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X, YouTube, Reddit, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

Promotion Strategies in Hungary

Let’s look at the key features when creating a strategy for promotion in Hungary.

• Language: The official language is Hungarian. English is also widely spoken, especially among young people and in tourist areas. Hungary is frequently visited by tourists from Germany, Romania, and France, many of whom also visit online casinos and sportsbooks. Therefore, it makes sense to create creatives localized for the target audiences of these countries, especially in tourist cities — Sopron, Debrecen, and Budapest.
• Currency: The main currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF). Euro and US dollars are also commonly used for purchases and account top-ups. Popular payment systems for online payments include Mobiamo, SEPA, Narvesen, EcoCard, and Mint.
• Local Population: Hungarians are active players both in online and offline casinos and sportsbooks. Users often make repeat deposits and are loyal to this type of entertainment, which ensures high-quality traffic. Key traits of the local mentality include a deep attachment to culture and history, openness to new things, and a love for sports, especially football and water sports.
• Targeting: The primary paying audience is aged 35-44 and 45-54 (67% of the population), who prefer sports betting and actively use Facebook. Geo-targeting for this audience works best in major cities: Budapest, Debrecen, and Szeged. Youth (18-35 years) are interested in both betting and casinos and actively use popular social networks — Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Pinterest, YouTube, Tumblr, and LinkedIn. It’s worth noting that Android dominates in Hungary (80%) versus iOS (only 18%). Popular browsers include Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.

How to Make Creatives for Hungary

Several key approaches are effective when making creatives for Hungary. First, in betting, you need to emphasize both leisure and winning, as Hungarians, although loyal to gambling, dislike frequent losses (especially when betting on local teams).

Creatives must be localized, adding screenshots of popular Hungarian banks (OTP Bank, MBH Bank, K&H Bank, UniCredit Bank Hungary). This will give the creatives a more trustworthy look, which positively impacts conversion. For casino promotion, focus on emotions rather than money — for example, close-ups of happy winners are a strong trigger.

It is also important to use patriotic motifs: national symbols (flag, forint), landmarks (especially Budapest), and Hungarian names. Considering the popularity of local news portals, creatives with catchy headlines can prove highly effective. Also, don’t forget to use images of popular Hungarian celebrities — Tóth Andi (musician), Dzsudzsák Balázs (footballer), Abosi Barna (blogger), and others.

iGaming Regulation in Hungary

Hungary is experiencing active growth in the online casino and sports betting market. The legislative environment as of 2024 is considered quite tolerant, including attitudes towards gambling advertising. Online casinos and sportsbooks have legal status.

The main regulator is the State Gambling Regulatory Authority (SARA). It is important to note that although SARA may not immediately block operators without a license, initially sending notifications and allowing time for legalization, long-term operation without a license in Hungary is impossible. For legal operators like 888STARZ Partners, there are no regulatory issues.

Best Traffic Sources for Hungary

Let’s look at which traffic sources will be effective for promotion in Hungary:

• Facebook: Audience of 4.8 million users, balanced by gender (51% women), main age group 25-44 (45%). It is the primary source for gambling and betting. Successful creatives in Facebook include videos of quick wins, screenshots of payments from local banks (OTP Bank, MBH Bank), and faces of happy players. Key targeting: cities (Budapest, Debrecen), interests (gambling, sports), mobile operators (Magyar Telekom, Vodafone). Performance: CTR 2–3%, CPC ~$0.2, CPA $120–200. Localization in Hungarian and the use of cultural triggers (flags, local celebrities) are mandatory.
• Google (PPC & SEO): Google. Hu dominates with a 92% share of search traffic in Hungary. For PPC, key commercial queries include “online kaszinó,” “sportfogadás,” and names of top slots (Sticky Piggy, Buffalo King). Landing pages should be simplified with a deposit form on the first screen (conversion up to 47% for gambling). SEO brings over 6.5 million visits/month for leaders (Index.hu, Origo.hu). Content in Google needs to integrate offers (news, casino reviews), localized keywords (“nyerőgépes játékok”), and mobile adaptation (load time up to 3 sec). Remember the emphasis on Android.
• YouTube: Audience of over 5.9 million users, 70% watch on smartphones. Short clips (15–30 sec) showing win moments and slot reviews by local bloggers work well. TrueView ads with GEO-targeting and integration into partner channels (topics: sports, finance) are effective. Creatives with bank transfers (OTP Bank) have high CTR. Recommended to combine with ads on Telegram or websites to increase reach.
• Instagram: Over 3.2 million users, 60% youth aged 18–34. Instagram reels with emotional stories (wins, adrenaline), and stories with street polls are optimal. The key approach is collaborations with local influencers. Visuals must be professional: vibrant colors, sharp shots, and slick editing are preferred.

Conclusion

Hungary is truly a top GEO for both beginners and experienced webmasters in the iGaming niche. However, you won’t get quality leads if you don’t consider all the local features of this country. Based on them, you can create a truly effective traffic strategy. Moreover, traffic must not only be acquired but also monetized for maximum profit — 888STARZ Partners will help you with that. With us you will not only gain access to Hungary, but also to over 100 promising GEOs to promote our in-house offers. For quality traffic, we offer special cooperation terms — individual rates and exclusive creatives. Contact us!