After an error in prize notifications by Norsk Tipping, Norway’s state-owned gambling company, thousands of citizens were led to believe they had struck it rich in the Eurojackpot lottery. On Friday, an incorrect conversion from Eurocents to Norwegian kroner resulted in inflated prize amounts being communicated to "several thousand" players, as confirmed by Norsk Tipping. The head of the company, Tonje Sagstuen, has since apologized for the distress caused and submitted her resignation just a day later.
The mishap occurred when the lottery operator miscalculated the conversion rate, inadvertently multiplying the amounts by 100 instead of dividing them, according to reports from local media. All notifications were rectified on Saturday, but Norsk Tipping assured that no erroneous payouts occurred due to the blunder. In a heartfelt statement, Sagstuen expressed her regret and mentioned she had received numerous messages from individuals whose life plans were suddenly disrupted, including those looking to travel or make significant purchases.
One affected individual voiced her disappointment when she received a message indicating she had won 1.2 million kroner (approximately $119,000) but ultimately received a much lesser amount. Following the situation, Norsk Tipping held an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Culture, which oversees the company's operations. Subsequently, Sagstuen stepped down from her position. She held the role for only a short period since September 2023, having been with the organization for almost a decade.
Ms. Sagstuen attributed the mistake to several failures and accepted her share of the responsibility. The Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery, emphasized the necessity for rigorous procedural improvements to prevent future mishaps, pointing out that Norsk Tipping holds exclusive rights to gambling services in Norway. This incident has not marked the first time the company faced scrutiny, with several past errors and technical issues leading to public dissatisfaction. Norsk Tipping acknowledged these criticisms as valid, recognizing they must enhance their operational protocols to regain public trust.
