Hungary Appoints New Head of State Gambling Company

Zoltán Sólyom has been named the new CEO of Szerencsejáték Zrt., Hungary's state-owned gambling company. Finance Minister András Kármán announced the appointment on his Facebook page. The decision is seen as a stage in the TISZA government's restructuring of the state-owned gambling sector.

The company's former CEO, Zoltán Guller, was removed in June, and no permanent leader had been appointed since. The board was renewed in July. Kármán said the step was taken during a process in which state assets and public institutions, including those in energy and public services, are being reviewed.

Minister Kármán sharply criticized the previous management. In his view, the company was badly managed and, under Viktor Orbán and the Fidesz government, was used to channel political support funds. The minister claimed that billions of forints in public money were transferred to Fidesz-linked businesses for political reasons, without transparency or justification.

Sólyom has a background in insurance. In 1997 he founded Palladium Consulting, an insurance advisory and brokerage firm, and before that he held senior management positions at Generali. According to Kármán, Sólyom has served on the boards of both Szerencsejáték and Corvinus International Investment since August. The minister said this experience allowed him to know the company closely before taking up the CEO role.

Orbán's office defended the previous management. According to the office, the company operated in accordance with the law and fund allocations were made through transparent processes. Meanwhile, under a new law approved in September, the regulator SZTFH lost its concession-related duties and the Concession Council was abolished. The regulator's role was limited to giving preliminary approval to concession regulations, while the power to grant concessions passed to the ministers.