The error saw players who submitted bets through cooperative banks around Christmas and New Year deleted from the system. They were then subsequently excluded from the draw at Easter.
According to Lotteritilsynet, some 16,698 participants and 0.2% of the ranks were impacted by the error. This meant the draw was not carried out properly, with some users incorrectly winning prizes valued in the millions.
Norsk Tipping refunded the stakes of players who did not participate in the draw. However, Lotteritilsynet said that as the draw process breached the country’s Gambling Act, Norsk Tipping should be sanctioned.
In its notice on Monday, Lotteritilsynet said this penalty fee could be set as high as NOK25 million. Norsk Tipping has three weeks from the date of this notice (29 September) to comment on the case before the regulator makes its final decision.
‘Gross negligence’ from Norsk Tipping
Tore Bell, department director of Lotteritilsynet, hit out at Norsk Tipping over the matter. He noted how Norsk Topping had been aware of issues for some time and that the regulator had considered stepping in. However, following assurances from the operator, Lotteritilsynet allowed the draw to proceed.
“Trust that the draw and the basis for the draw will be correct is absolutely fundamental for a lottery,” Bell said. “Therefore, it is very serious when this has not been in place.
“This is gross negligence. Norsk Tipping did not check that all ranks were included in the draw, even though they had knowledge at the time that there had been serious errors in the draw basis over a long period of time.
“We can stop a lottery that is not being carried out correctly. We considered that in this case, but we received repeated guarantees that the draw would proceed correctly. It is unacceptable that there were still errors in the draw.”
Bell also flagged that Norsk Tipping had submitted a preliminary security report on this draw shortly after it was carried out. This stated that the draw was carried out without issue, with all players having the same chance of winning. However, this was not the case.
“It is reprehensible that Norsk Tipping could establish that the super draw was carried out correctly despite not checking that everyone who had bought tickets was allowed to participate in the draw,” Bell said. “This is likely to weaken trust in the company.”
Penalties continue to mount up for Norsk Tipping
Should Lotteritilsynet proceed with the penalty fee, it would be the fourth issued to Norsk Tipping in the past year.
The largest fee was set at NOK46 million earlier in September for a technical failing related to Eurojackpot and Lotto. The regulator found players in cooperatives, gaming clubs and cooperative banks had a greater chance of winning than they should have had.
A separate penalty of NOK36 million was announced in March after a bug prevented self-excluded players from blocking themselves from their Norsk Tipping accounts. This followed a NOK2.5 million fine in 2024 after the company mistakenly paid a player NOK25 million in incorrect winnings.
In addition, Lotteritilsynet recently said Norsk Tipping could face a further NOK10 million penalty over an error on the Eurojackpot game. Some 47,000 players were incorrectly notified that they had won excessively high prizes in a draw on 27 June. Incidentally, this led to previous Norsk Tipping CEO Tonje Sagstuen resigning from her post.
“All these cases make it crucial that Norsk Tipping tightens its routines, controls and the quality of what it does,” Bell said. “That is why we have announced a major inspection this autumn where we will look at Lotto, Eurojackpot and Vikinglotto.”
Lotteritilsynet had faced criticism over its handling of the cases. Gambling trade bodies across Scandinavia banded together to condemn a “lack of action” from the regulator following the scandal. They deemed the incident “exhibit A in the case against state gambling monopolies”.
Dingnews.com 02/10/2025