Oslo, Norway — A wave of excitement among numerous lottery players turned to disappointment when they learned that a notification from the state-owned gambling operator, Norsk Tipping, announcing massive Eurojackpot wins was incorrect. Initially, “several thousand” people thought they had struck it rich due to inflated prize amounts, but the reality soon set in when the company clarified that the figures were mistakenly exaggerated.
The confusion arose on Friday when the company mistakenly multiplied lottery winnings instead of converting them properly from Euros to Norwegian kroner. This miscalculation led to winners being notified about prize amounts significantly higher than what they were actually due. Following the error, Norsk Tipping’s CEO, Tonje Sagstuen, tendered her resignation just a day after issuing an apology for the mishap.
In her statement, Sagstuen expressed remorse for the distress caused and acknowledged that the company had lost the trust of its players. “Several winners had made plans based on these incorrect amounts, and I fully understand their frustration,” she said. One winner, who had already embarked on a renovation project, was particularly disheartened after being informed of a windfall of 1.2 million kroner, only to discover later that the true amount was substantially less.
Norsk Tipping stated that it updated the correct prize amounts by Saturday evening, clarifying that no payouts had been issued based on the erroneous figures. The company’s operational oversight has come under scrutiny before, and this incident prompted an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Culture, which oversees Norsk Tipping’s activities. Sagstuen led the company since September 2023 and had been with them since 2014.
“This situation reflects a failure on multiple fronts, and I take full responsibility,” she remarked after announcing her resignation. Her departure highlighted the gravity of the situation and the need for organizational reform. The Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery, voiced her expectations that the board would address control procedures more stringently. “Mistakes like this are unacceptable, particularly given the exclusive gaming rights held by Norsk Tipping,” she emphasized.
As the company navigates through this controversy, it faces heightened scrutiny over its operational integrity. Norsk Tipping acknowledged that it has dealt with a series of significant errors and technical problems, which have led to criticism from both regulatory authorities and customers. The company openly recognized that it needed to make substantial improvements to avoid future mishaps.
Going forward, Norsk Tipping’s management will likely be under pressure to revamp its systems and to reassure players that such errors will not recur. The recent episode serves as a reminder of the critical importance of accuracy in the gambling industry, where trust is paramount to maintaining player engagement and satisfaction.