A significant error by Norway’s state-owned gambling operator, Norsk Tipping, led to thousands of customers mistakenly believing they had won substantial lottery prizes. The mix-up stemmed from a mathematical mistake during the conversion of Eurojackpot prizes from euros to Norwegian kroner. As a result, the amounts were erroneously multiplied by 100 instead of being divided, causing the sums reported to be inflated.
Customers across Norway celebrated momentarily as they received notifications of their alleged winnings. One couple from Herøy thought they had claimed 1.2 million kroner, while another individual believed they had won 1.9 million kroner. Many had started planning how they would spend their newfound fortune, ranging from home renovations to luxury vacations.
Norsk Tipping clarified that no payouts occurred, and the erroneous amounts were quickly retracted from their website and app. This incident prompted backlash from the public, regulators, and government officials, leading to an emergency meeting led by Lubna Jaffery, Norway’s culture minister. She expressed her disappointment, stating that such an oversight should not occur, particularly as Norsk Tipping holds exclusive rights to gaming services in Norway.
In light of the incident, Tonje Sagstuen, the chief executive of Norsk Tipping, announced her resignation after two years in her role, taking responsibility for the error. She acknowledged the disappointment felt by many who thought they were about to become millionaires and expressed her sadness over leaving the dedicated team at the company.
This unfortunate event isn’t the first of its kind at Norsk Tipping, which has faced scrutiny over several technical issues in recent months. As the company reassures customers and works to improve its internal controls, this situation serves as a reminder of the importance of accuracy and transparency in gaming operations.
In light of the challenges faced, there remains hope for the future. The focus on improving practices within Norsk Tipping could lead to a more trustworthy gaming environment, ensuring that mistakes like this do not happen again.