Evaluation of Lotto Saxony-Anhalt
The Saxony-Anhalt Transport Minister and Lotto Supervisory Board Chairman, Thomas Webel (CDU), has requested an external audit into Lotto Saxony-Anhalt's operations. The call came after months of rumors surrounding nepotism and money laundering, with the right-wing AfD party in the state legislature sparking the debate. How will the situation develop?
Lotto Saxony-Anhalt Under Fire
"The Supervisory Board desires to restore peace to the state company," Webel said of his demand, made at a meeting of the Lotto committee in Magdeburg on Tuesday. The committee, a panel of representatives including the gambling supervisory authority of the Ministry of the Interior, shareholders, and Lotto Saxony-Anhalt's management, was first convened in November 2019.
Webel believes an external review would help clarify matters and clear the negative headlines surrounding Lotto Saxony-Anhalt. The allegations range from nepotism and money laundering to illegal subsidies. While the committee found "no misconduct," Webel stressed the committee is not an expert body, necessitating an external audit.
Zerbst Lottery Retail Outlet Investigated
The most recent inquiry centered around a lottery retail outlet in Zerbst, where a new manager at sports betting company Oddset showed high bets and large payouts. Nine players wagered over €100,000 within six months, with sources indicating the money may have originated from money laundering.
Additionally, the manager's husband, allegedly involved in lottery software development, raises further questions. The branch has since been closed. A Lotto spokesperson attributed the closure to behavior harmful to business, while Saxony-Anhalt's Finance Minister, Michael Richter (CDU), issued an "extraordinary termination notice."
Closure Met With Criticism
Lotto Saxony-Anhalt commissioned the internal review before the Ministry of Finance's order, and Richter's decision was based on a "lack of trust," in response to Lotto's "insufficient information" on the events. Lotto, however, insisted they notified authorities as legally required.
Lotto Saxony-Anhalt Under Scrutiny Since 2019
Lotto Saxony-Anhalt has faced scrutiny since June 2019, with the AfD party filing a criminal complaint against Lotto Toto GmbH Sachsen-Anhalt Managing Director Maren Sieb. The complaint accused Sieb of embezzlement, reliant on allegations of political connections tied to state funding.
The AfD alleges Sieb used her position to award favors, referring to potential "dubious connections" between her, the advertising agency "ISA i motion," and various funding partners. Named charities include the Stendal food bank, the regional German Red Cross Saxony-Anhalt, the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband, the Volkssolidarität Saale-Kyffhäuser e.V., and the Association of Independent Welfare Organizations.
Charities Receive Donation Funds
Lotto Saxony-Anhalt takes in about €200 million annually. Most goes to the state treasury, with a portion funding charities, including organizations such as the aforementioned. The party claimed the advertising materials for these organizations were funded by Lotto, leading to suspicion of preferential treatment.
The AfD contends the evidence suggests entanglements between politics, funding institutions, and certain favorites. They want to increase accountability in the future and ensure "institutions and individuals are subject to legal scrutiny."
So far, Lotto's director Maren Sieb has strongly denied the claims made by the AfD. He calls these allegations "complete nonsense," as demonstrated by his subsequent lawsuit based on defamation and libel. The advertising agency that was targeted in these accusations has primarily dealt with assisting public relations efforts in collaboration with non-profit institutions.
Sieb emphasized that their role in determining the distribution of funds was fairly negligible, as each lottery funding application required approval from the relevant ministry first. Additionally, any applications valued at more than 15,000 euros are thoroughly scrutinized by a 14-member advisory panel consisting of state politicians. The final decision on funding distribution, however, is made not by the advisory committee, but by the supervisory board. It remains uncertain whether the impending examination by an expert panel, as suggested by Webel, will bring clarity to the current confusion.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
