Hungary’s new TISZA-led government has completed a major restructuring of the leadership at state-owned gambling operator Szerencsejáték Zrt, replacing its chairman and reshaping the company’s board as part of a wider effort to reform state enterprises.
Finance and Economy Minister András Kármán announced the appointment of Marcell Olajos as the new chairman of Szerencsejáték Zrt, marking the first significant leadership change at the company since Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s administration took office in May.
The board overhaul, effective from 15 July, includes the dismissal of board members Krisztina Rédey, Gábor Bordás, Szabolcs Ágostházy and Zsófia Illés-Puka, while Marianna Gabriella Poltné Palásthy resigned from her position before the changes took effect. The reshuffle follows the removal of former chairman Zoltán Guller at the end of June.
Kármán said the reforms are intended to eliminate political influence from state-owned companies and introduce greater transparency, accountability and professional governance. According to the minister, the government aims to ensure public enterprises operate under clear and corruption-free management standards.
The leadership changes form part of a broader review launched after TISZA’s election victory earlier this year. Authorities are examining the governance of Szerencsejáték Zrt, its monopoly position and how gambling revenues were distributed under the previous Fidesz administration. Particular attention will be paid to sponsorships and public funding programmes financed through gambling profits.
Critics of the previous government have argued that billions of forints in grants distributed through the operator’s subsidiaries disproportionately benefited organisations linked to former ruling party figures. Meanwhile, outgoing board member Poltné Palásthy described the changes as politically motivated, accusing the new administration of repeating practices it had previously criticised.
The review could also influence the future of Hungary’s gambling market. Although the country formally opened its online sports betting market to operators from the European Economic Area in 2023, the licensing framework attracted little commercial interest due to the extensive advantages retained by Szerencsejáték Zrt. Analysts believe the government could revisit those arrangements as part of broader efforts to increase transparency and competition.
Despite the review, observers do not expect Hungary to dismantle the operator’s dominant role. Szerencsejáték Zrt remains one of the country’s most valuable state-owned enterprises, generating more than €3 billion in annual revenue and contributing approximately €447 million in taxes and regulatory payments, making it a significant source of public income.