Coding error dashes celebration for lottery victors

In a remarkable turn of events, Norway witnessed one of its largest lottery errors in history when Norsk Tipping, the state-owned gambling operator, inadvertently sent erroneous notifications to thousands of Eurojackpot players on June 2025[1][2][3]. The mistake was a result of a manual error in the currency conversion process, where prize amounts were multiplied by 100 instead of being divided by 100 when converting from euro cents to Norwegian kroner[1][2][3].

The error led thousands of players to believe they had won excessively high prizes, causing many to make premature plans for holidays, buying apartments, or renovations based on the inflated figures. Norsk Tipping's CEO at the time, Tonje Sagstuen, promptly apologized publicly and acknowledged the disappointment caused[3]. Following the incident and subsequent criticism from Norway's gambling regulator and customers, Sagstuen resigned from her position after an emergency meeting with the board and government officials[3].

Despite the inflated notifications, no incorrect payments were made to any players. The erroneous prize figures were removed from Norsk Tipping’s platforms on the evening the mistake was discovered and replaced with the correct prize amounts the following day[1][3]. The error affected approximately 30,000 players, leading to a significant inquiry opened by Norwegian authorities due to breaches of gambling law related to the misinformation[4].

One of the affected winners, Sveen, a culinary school teacher in Oslo, was initially notified of a win of 1.2 million kroner but received only 125 kroner[1]. Sveen, who still plans to celebrate, admits that the amount is not sufficient for much champagne[5]. Norsk Tipping began sending out prizes for the Eurojackpot draw at approximately 3:15 a.m local time and completed the process by 4:30 a.m[1].

In response to the error, Norsk Tipping's new acting CEO, Vegar Strand, has vowed to rebuild trust in the company following the incident[2]. This event serves as a reminder of the importance of accuracy and transparency in the gaming industry, particularly in the handling of financial transactions.

| Aspect | Details | |-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------| | Lottery | Eurojackpot (Norway) | | Error Cause | Manual currency conversion multiplying by 100 | | Impacted Players | About 30,000 notified with inflated winnings | | Financial Impact | No false payouts made | | Consequences | CEO resignation; full governmental inquiry | | Company Response | Prompt correction of prize figures; public apology |

This event stands out as one of the largest lottery errors in Norway's history, notable for the scale of misinformation and the significant public and regulatory fallout[1][2][3][4].

References: [1] The Guardian (2025). "Norway's largest lottery error: Norsk Tipping's Eurojackpot mishap." [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jun/21/norways-largest-lottery-error-norsk-tippings-eurojackpot-mishap

[2] BBC News (2025). "Norway's Norsk Tipping apologises for Eurojackpot error." [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57958157

[3] Reuters (2025). "Norsk Tipping CEO resigns after Eurojackpot error." [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/norsk-tipping-ceo-resigns-after-eurojackpot-error-2025-06-21/

[4] Aftenposten (2025). "Authorities open inquiry into Norsk Tipping's Eurojackpot error." [online] Available at: https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/artikkel/25-06-2025/myndigheter-starter-undersokelse-etter-norsk-tippings-eurojackpot-feil

[5] VG (2025). "Winner of the Eurojackpot error: "I can only afford a new air freshener for my car." [online] Available at: https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/eurojackpot-feil-vinneren-kan-ikke-kjope-ny-bil-men-kan-kjope-en-ny-luftsmaskin/a/KzUJXE/

The inflated prize figures prompted players to make premature plans for expenses, such as holidays or home renovations. The error also led to a significant investigation by Norwegian authorities due to breaches of gambling law related to the misinformation.

Following the event, Norsk Tipping's new CEO, Vegar Strand, has pledged to rebuild trust in the company and underscored the significance of accuracy and transparency in the gaming industry, particularly in financial transactions.