TISZA Government Appoints New CEO at Szerencsejáték Lottery as Political Accusations Fly Against Fidesz-Era Management
Hungary's Finance Minister András Kármán appointed Zoltán Sólyom as CEO of Szerencsejáték Zrt. following the sacking of Zoltán Guller in July 2026. Kármán accused the prior Fidesz-linked management of distributing billions of forints without transparency to politically connected businesses. Fidesz denies the claims and says no evidence has been provided.
SCCG Take — Political transitions directly reshape governance and funding oversight at state lottery operators, raising execution risks for commercial partnerships until new controls stabilize.
The state-owned Hungarian lottery operator Szerencsejáték Zrt. has a new CEO following a change in national government, with the appointment sparking a direct political confrontation.
András Kármán, the Hungarian Finance Minister, announced Zoltán Sólyom as the incoming chief executive via Facebook. The move has not yet been published in the state gazette. Sólyom replaces Zoltán Guller, who was removed from the role by Kármán in July 2026 as the start of a group-wide “reset of the company.” The entire board was later dismissed in August.
Leadership Change Follows End of 16-Year Fidesz Rule
The developments reflect the new TISZA government asserting control over state institutions after unseating Fidesz’s 16-year rule under Viktor Orbán. Kármán stated: “Today marks the end of the era of secrecy and abuse at Szerencsejáték Zrt.” He added that Sólyom convinced him during the selection process that he would serve as “a capable leader and a responsible steward of the company.”
Kármán expects the operator to “become a modern, efficient business that operates, above all, in the interests of Hungarian taxpayers.” He has specifically targeted prior spending, describing Szerencsejáték as a “cash dispenser” for Orbán’s System of National Cooperation (NER). “Billions of forints of taxpayers’ money were distributed through the company without transparency or justification, and on political grounds, to businesses close to Fidesz,” Kármán continued.
Fidesz Rejects Claims of Improper Funding
The Fidesz party and Orbán’s office responded on 28 October that Szerencsejáték had operated lawfully and transparently under their administration, including in its funding policy. The statement, as reported by Lottery Daily, maintains that Kármán cannot prove the allegations linked to support for Hungarian charity and social causes via lottery, betting and gaming operations.
The exchange underscores how control of state gambling assets can become contested ground after a transfer of political power.
Gaming, betting and prediction markets — the desk’s read, every weekday.
Subscribe →