The question that hangs in the air is how much money actually goes to sports in Bulgaria? And more importantly, where is this money being lost? The Minister of Youth and Sports, Ivan Peshev, brought some clarity to Parliament today, but there are also questions that still remain open.
The Stakes Are High
The analysis conducted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MMS) for the last 10 months reveals impressive figures. The gambling market in Bulgaria is worth 44 billion leva. Of this sum, the profit is 2 billion leva. However, the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator (BST) generates only 70 million leva. It is clear that the potential is enormous. Peshev stressed that sports in Bulgaria are systematically underfunded. Sports facilities are in a deplorable state, and funds for youth sports are insufficient.
The Concession - Panacea or…?
The solution proposed by the MMS is a concession of the BST. The idea is to attract large international companies to the lottery activity, but the Totalizator will remain state-owned. The Minister promises that all BST employees will keep their jobs, and even their salaries will be doubled. Most importantly - the entire concession fee will be directed to the MMS budget, and specifically, to sports. Does this sound too good to be true?
The Money - From Where and Where To?
In order to realize this ambition, the state-owned totalizator will have to invest hundreds of millions of leva in new software, hardware and new facilities. Currently, BST does not generate enough revenue to successfully implement this business model, noted Peshev. Dragomir Stoynev from BSP stressed that their concern is for the state-owned enterprise, and not for the business that generates billions in profits. He also confirmed that the BST will remain state-owned and announced three key conditions for the concession: a large international operator with the necessary capital, a concession fee at least twice the current revenue (240 million leva), and the preservation of all jobs. If one of these conditions is not met, nothing will happen, he emphasized.
Two Billion Profit - For Whom?
Stoynev also touched on the issue of underfunding of sports, as well as the condition of sports infrastructure. He pointed out that some people protect the gambling business, which generates a profit of 2 billion leva, while no one pays attention to the fact that the Bulgarian National Lottery makes a profit of 120 million leva. Here the question arises - where does this money go? Why are efforts directed at protecting the business, and not at funding sports and youth? Stoynev stated that an international team will be formed to develop the necessary legal agreements for a transparent procedure.
Management - Stalled?
Stoynev was adamant that there is a need for changes in the way the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator (BST) is managed. He also used a metaphor to emphasize the need for change. It is not possible to draw ball 41 in the game "5 out of 35". What exactly does this mean? Do old practices hinder development?
The question is whether the concession will bring real benefits to sports in Bulgaria. Or will it be another way of redistributing funds, which ultimately will not lead to a significant change? We'll have to wait and see. But before that, let's ask ourselves: why so much money is circulating in the gambling business, while sports are still on the back burner?