Norsk Tipping Faces Regulatory Heat After Jackpot Error

Norsk Tipping is facing pressure from all sides after a major error led thousands of players to believe they had won much more money than they actually had in a Eurojackpot draw. The mistake triggered public outrage, political criticism, and even the resignation of the operator’s CEO — but the situation is far from settled.

A technical failure in the company’s currency conversion system sent out false winning notifications to nearly 16,000 players. In some cases, the messages overstated prizes by a factor of 10,000. Many believed they had hit the jackpot, only to later learn it was a mistake.

Good to know

• Around 16,000 players received incorrect prize information.
• Norsk Tipping’s CEO resigned after the incident.
• The regulator is now reviewing whether the company broke gambling laws.

Lottstift, Norway’s gambling regulator, is now investigating whether the error breached the country’s Gambling Act. Communications director Terje Gilleshammer confirmed they have received an initial incident report from Norsk Tipping. A formal meeting between the two sides was scheduled for Tuesday.

“This is a serious matter, which is clearly harmful to Norsk Tipping,” said Gilleshammer. “Our job is to assess whether what has happened is a violation of the Gambling Act. We are in the process of thoroughly reviewing [the report], and will have a meeting with Norsk Tipping [on Tuesday]. We will of course inform you when we have considered this matter. This is an error that is of great public interest, and which has affected many players.”

The consequences extended far beyond disappointment. Some players had already made financial decisions — like paying deposits on homes or booking trips — based on the false information they received. Outgoing CEO Tonje Sagstuen mentioned this in her resignation letter, acknowledging the impact on affected users.

But what has drawn even more criticism is the payout Sagstuen received on her way out. The board, chaired by Sylvia Brustad, reportedly awarded her NOK3 million (€252,000) in severance. Several political parties quickly condemned both the payout and the broader management of Norsk Tipping.

Silje Hjemdal of the Progress Party, a known critic of the gambling monopoly, called the payout “beyond all reason.” She also called on culture minister Lubna Jaffery to review her confidence in Brustad’s leadership.

“I expect that minister of culture Lubna Jaffery will also consider whether she has confidence in the chairwoman of the board Sylvia Brustad. I have serious questions about Brustad’s handling of the departure of the CEO, and she is also partly responsible for all the scandals that have hit the company in recent years,” said Hjemdal.

The fallout from the Eurojackpot glitch continues to grow, and all eyes are now on the regulator’s next move.

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