Thousands of Norwegians were mistakenly informed they had won large sums in the Eurojackpot lottery due to an error by state-owned gambling company Norsk Tipping.
Why it matters: The incident led to the resignation of Norsk Tipping CEO Tonje Sagstuen and raised concerns about the company’s control routines and technical issues.
The details:
- The error occurred during the conversion of prize amounts from Eurocents to Norwegian kroner, with the amounts being multiplied by 100 instead of divided.
- Corrected prize amounts were updated on Saturday evening, and no incorrect payouts were made.
- Sagstuen apologized for the mistake and acknowledged the justified criticism, stating she had received messages from people who had made plans based on the incorrect winnings.
- Norsk Tipping has experienced several technical problems over the past year and has been criticized by the regulator and customers.
What they’re saying:
- “I am terribly sorry that we have disappointed so many, and I understand that people are angry with us,” said Sagstuen in a statement.
- Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery said, “Such mistakes should not happen,” especially given Norsk Tipping’s exclusive right to deliver gaming services in the country.
The aftermath: Sagstuen resigned from her position as CEO following an emergency meeting between the Norsk Tipping board and the Ministry of Culture. She had held the role since September 2023.
What’s next: Norsk Tipping is investigating the incident and working to improve its control routines to prevent similar errors in the future.