Hungary seizes 130 million from state lottery ahead of elections
Hungarian state lottery operator stripped of €130 million in dividends just days before elections
Hungary’s government extracted a record 52 billion forints (€130 million) in dividends from *Szerencsejáték Zrt.*, the state-owned lottery company, three days before parliamentary elections, *HVG* reports. Finance Minister Márton Nagy withdrew the full 49 billion forints (€122 million) in profits for 2025, plus an additional 3 billion forints (€7.5 million) from the company’s reserve funds, effectively draining its financial buffers.
The move follows a pattern of pre-election cash injections from state-controlled entities, though the scale of this withdrawal—equivalent to 10% of the company’s annual revenue—marks a sharp escalation. *Szerencsejáték Zrt.* operates Hungary’s national lotteries, including *Lotto 6/49*, *Joker*, and *Noroc*, which awarded over 30,080 prizes worth 2.52 million lei (€500,000) in a single draw on May 24, according to Romanian lottery results . The company’s next draw, scheduled for today (May 28), offers jackpots totaling over €509 million, including a €433,600 prize for the Joker game.
No official explanation has been provided for the dividend withdrawal, but analysts note the timing aligns with the government’s pre-election spending spree, which has included tax cuts, wage hikes, and infrastructure projects. *Szerencsejáték Zrt.* has not commented on whether the payout will affect future prize pools or operational stability.
The lottery operator remains a critical revenue stream for Hungary’s budget, with annual profits historically reinvested into prize funds and public services. Critics argue the latest dividend extraction risks undermining long-term trust in the system, particularly as neighboring Romania’s *Loteria Română* continues to expand its offerings, including a €509 million jackpot for today’s *Loto 6/49* draw.
Hungary’s lottery market has faced scrutiny in recent years over transparency and political interference. In 2024, the government centralized all gambling operations under *Szerencsejáték Zrt.*, citing efficiency gains, but opposition lawmakers have accused the move of enabling off-budget spending ahead of elections. The latest dividend withdrawal—the largest in the company’s history—adds to concerns about the sustainability of state-controlled enterprises under fiscal pressure.









