The Bulgarian Sports Totalizator (BST) has resumed normal operations following a draw error on 23 March that resulted in the dismissal of the state lottery’s entire management and the opening of formal investigations by five government bodies.
What Happened During the Draw
During the “Second Lotto Chance – 5 out of 35” draw, a ball numbered 41 was drawn — an impossible outcome in a game where no ball above 35 exists. The incident was broadcast live on Bulgarian National Television. BST attributed the error to a different set of balls being mistakenly loaded into the draw machine. To comply with game regulations, the original combination was annulled and a new combination was redrawn during the same live broadcast. BST issued a public apology and described the incident as a technical error.
The explanation did not contain the political and public reaction that followed.
Government Response and Management Dismissal
Minister of Youth and Sports Ivan Peshev ordered an immediate investigation into BST’s operations, describing the situation as “highly disappointing” and stating that the error “calls into question citizens’ confidence in the sports gaming system.” He announced that the entire management and those responsible would be dismissed.
Executive Director Georgi Tarlekov was removed the day following the draw, along with the rest of the management board. According to BST, the operator of the machine used in the compromised draw also bid to resign.
The Sports Ministry referred the case to five separate agencies: the National Revenue Agency, the prosecution service, the Ministry of Interior, the State Financial Inspection Agency, and the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision. The Interior Ministry assigned the probe to the National Police Directorate General to determine whether evidence of a criminal offence exists.
Political pressure came from outside government as well. DPS-New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski called the incident “the spectacular gaffe,” stating it destroys trust built up over decades and casts a shadow of doubt that money given for sport goes into the pockets of schemers. Peevski called for a check by the National Revenue Agency into the Totalizator’s activity due to suspected abuse and fraud schemes.
“The situation where thousands of players were misled by an incorrectly drawn number is highly disappointing and calls into question the performance of the Totalizator’s management.” — Ivan Peshev, Minister of Youth and Sports, Bulgaria
Why This Matters Beyond the Draw Error
BST is not a peripheral operator. The Totalizator reported 2024 revenues of BGN 427.6 million and a net profit of BGN 21.4 million, with a workforce of 1,512 employees. It holds a legally protected monopoly on lottery operations in Bulgaria and operates a nationwide retail network. 18% of BST revenues go directly to the Ministry of Youth and Sports as the primary source of funding for Bulgarian sport, with the corporate tax of 15% also returned to the Ministry. A loss of public confidence in draw integrity is therefore a funding issue for national sports programmes, not only a reputational one for the operator.
The March incident is also not the first time BST’s governance has come under scrutiny. The state lottery has seen three management changes in under three years, each tied to political transitions and ministerial appointments rather than competitive selection. The concession debate adds a further layer of complexity: a legislative proposal published in the 2026 State Budget Bill would have granted a 15-year concession over BST’s operations to a private operator, with the Sports Minister required to test investor interest by 31 March 2026. That process was already underway when the March 23 incident occurred, and the draw error handed critics of the concession plan fresh arguments about the risks of state mismanagement.
For an operator whose draws are broadcast live to maintain public trust, internal procedural controls over something as basic as the correct ball set are not a technical footnote — they sit at the core of the regulatory compact between the state lottery and its players. Whether the multi-agency investigation produces criminal referrals or finds negligence without intent, the outcome will shape the governance terms attached to any future concession or continued state operation. This story is covered in detail alongside broader Eastern European regulatory enforcement trends in Three markets, one message: comply or face consequences. Comparable regulatory patterns across the region are tracked in the coverage of the seven European regulators who convened in Madrid on cross-border oversight challenges.
Source: Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), Novinite (Sofia News Agency)
