Within one week, the management of the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator (BST), led by Executive Director Tervel Penkov, took action to restore operational continuity and stability.
At the beginning of the month, the Ministry of Sports dismissed several figures from BST’s former leadership, stating it could not work with a management team that supported policies aimed at transferring the organisation into private ownership.
The Ministry maintains that BST should continue to operate as a state-owned entity with an important public role.
Meanwhile, the former BST leadership described the allegations made by the interim Minister of Sports, Dimitar Iliev, as insinuations and false information.
Former Executive Director Lyubomir Petrov has challenged the decision in court, but this has not suspended its implementation.
As a result of the leadership changes, payouts of winnings over €5,000 ($5,857) were temporarily suspended, affecting lottery winners, including high-value prize holders.
Operations have now been stabilised, with full functionality restored. Payments to winners are currently made regularly and without delay.
All obligations to partners and contractors are met on time, while employee salaries are paid in full.
The Sofia City Court has upheld the legality of the recent management changes, ensuring institutional clarity.
The BST has recently received a European certification for responsible gaming following a successful audit by the European Lotteries.
The certification and leadership change come at a time of continued financial growth for the operator. In 2025, BST reported a 10.6% year-on-year increase in total revenue to BGN 472m ($278.8m), while revenue generated for the state rose by 10.2% to BGN 104m.
BST is set to join Eurojackpot soon
