To compensate for the 30 billion forints ($135 million) in lost tax revenues due to the slot machine ban, Lazar said the government was planning to regulate and tax Internet-based gambling activities.
Although it would be difficult to implement, Boros said it was also possible that the government could seek to prohibit access in Hungary to foreign Internet gambling sites and give Szerencsejatek a monopoly on such activities in the country.
Taking a break from feeding the machines at a Budapest gambling hall, Antal Lato said he sometimes got "totally wrapped up" in his gambling and welcomed the ban.
"It will be good because at least you won't lose your money," said the 63-yer-old Lato, acknowledging that he sometimes spends up to 20,000 forints ($90) in one session. "The truth is, you have to struggle to win your money back."
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