Unprecedented Error Shakes Bulgarian State Lottery

A critically important blunder during a live drawing of the “Second Toto Chance” game of “5 of 35” has sent shockwaves through the Bulgarian State Sports Totalizator (Toto), leading to the immediate dismissal of Executive Director Georgi Tarlekov.The incident, which occurred on Sunday at 6:50 PM during a broadcast on BNT, involved the drawing of the number 41, an impossibility given the game’s 1-35 number range.

The presenter, Deyan Slavchev-deo, visibly faltered, but continued reading the combination. Adding to the confusion, Marina Kiskinova then introduced a new machine to draw additional numbers instead of halting the process. This series of missteps has severely undermined public trust in the state-run gambling operator.

Swift Response: Firings and Investigations launched

Following the incident, an official statement was released by Toto at 9 PM, stating that a second drawing had been conducted according to the rules, and a new combination was announced. Though, the damage was already done.Minister of Sport Ivan Peshev swiftly ordered an urgent investigation into Toto’s operations. As a result, Executive Director Georgi Tarlekov was fired, and the machine operator involved in the error resigned. Tarlekov was also removed from the Management Board.

Minister of Finance,Temenuzhka Petkova,has also directed the National revenue Agency and the State Financial Inspection Agency to conduct their own investigations into the “Bulgarian Sports Totalizator.” Teams from the Ministry of Interior are also investigating potential criminal activity.

Minister peshev has been in constant dialogue with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov since the incident. He has also requested a detailed report from BCT DP to clarify the circumstances surrounding the compromised drawing, prompting an internal inspection and specific explanations from all employees involved.

Transparency Concerns and Committee Composition

Initial findings from the inspections have revealed irregularities in Toto’s operations. Historically,the committee responsible for overseeing the drawings included representatives from both Toto and the National Revenue Agency (NRA),and previously,the State gambling Committee. However, in recent years, the committee has been comprised solely of Toto employees, raising concerns about objectivity and transparency in the drawing process.

This does not allow objectivity and transparency in the drawing process.

Background: Toto’s Leadership and Financial performance

Georgi Tarlekov had served as the CEO of Toto since September 1, 2023, succeeding Angel Ivanov. Prior to his appointment, he was an advisor to Dimitar Iliev on financial matters within the Sports Ministry and was previously associated with the Customs Agency. His past also includes a run for mayor of Lyulin and an accusation of conflict of interest in 2022.

Toto’s revenue for 2023 reached BGN 394.11 million, a significant increase of over BGN 56 million compared to the previous year. Numerical games, including the one involved in the recent scandal, account for the largest share of revenue, totaling BGN 212.422 million. Toto’s profit also saw a significant jump, from BGN 11.928 million to BGN 62.655 million.

By law, half of Toto’s revenue is allocated to prize payouts, with a percentage also directed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Culture. The remaining funds are used for the maintenance of the totalizator itself.

Historical Context and Past Scandals

While the current scandal is unprecedented due to the impossibility of the drawn number, Toto has faced other controversies throughout its history. In 2009, the game “6 of 42” saw the same numbers drawn in two consecutive circulations. In 2020, five consecutive numbers were drawn in “5 of 35.”

As the beginning of democracy, Toto has been embroiled in various scandals, including battles over digitization plans and conflicts with private lottery operators. There have also been instances of questionable procurement contracts and system failures.

The first Toto drawing took place on may 17, 1957, initially focusing on predicting match outcomes.

Impact and Future Implications

The recent scandal has not only damaged public trust in the Bulgarian State Sports Totalizator but has also raised serious questions about the integrity of its operations. The ongoing investigations and reforms are crucial to restoring confidence and ensuring transparency in the future.

The incident occurred shortly after the second-largest jackpot in Toto’s history, exceeding BGN 11 million, was won in Varna. The largest jackpot in history was won in Sliven. This juxtaposition of events highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of the lottery system, especially when significant sums of money are at stake.