site.btaBulgarian Sports Totalizator Faces Investigation, Management Dismissal over Faulty Draw

Minister of Youth and Sports Ivan Peshev ordered an immediate check into the work of the State-owned enterprise Bulgarian Sports Totalizator in connection with the game "Second Lotto Chance - 5 out of 35" and the compromised draw of March 23, the Ministry said in a press release in the early hours of Monday. "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. The error, in which the last number drawn from the winning combination turned out to be 41, is unacceptable and calls into question citizens' confidence in the sports gaming system," the press release reads.

There are not supposed to be figures bigger than 35 in the 5 out of 35 game.

For the sake of fair play and in the interest of all fans of games of chance, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has referred the matter to the National Revenue Agency, the prosecution service, the Interior Ministry, the State Financial Inspection Agency and the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision. Measures are also being taken for a full investigation of the work of the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator. The entire management and those responsible for this situation will be dismissed from their positions.

It is in order to maintain the trust of the citizens in the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator that the draws are broadcast in real time. The Sports Ministry guarantees that with adequate actions such incidents will become a thing of the past, the Ministry said in its press release.

In a position published on its website Sunday, the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator said: "Due to the loading of a different set of balls in the gaming installation during the draw of the 'Second Lotto Chance - 5 out of 35' in Draw 24 and in order to comply with the rules,  a new combination was redrawn during the live broadcast."

Late on Sunday night, MRF - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski called on the Sports Minister to dismiss the management of the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator over "the spectacular gaffe", which Peevski said destroys the trust built up over decades in the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator and casts a shadow of doubt that the money people give for sport goes into the pockets of schemers. Peevski also called for a check by the National Revenue Agency together with those responsible for the control over gambling in Bulgaria, into the Totalizator's activity due to suspected abuse and fraud schemes.