41,000 Norwegians Affected in High-Profile Lottery Mistake as Government Steps In
Norsk Tipping CEO Tonje Sagstuen has stepped down from her role after a major operational error that saw over 41,000 Norwegians wrongly informed they had won large Eurojackpot prizes. The high-profile blunder, caused by a “human error” in prize notifications, sparked widespread confusion and severely impacted public trust in the state-owned lottery operator.
According to Norsk Tipping, the error stemmed from an internal mistake that inflated winnings by a factor of 10,000. Over 16,000 recipients were directly notified via push messages on their phones, creating a social media frenzy and public backlash. The correct winnings were significantly lower, leaving players disillusioned and questioning the credibility of the operator.
Sagstuen Accepts Responsibility After 11 Years at the Company
Having served with Norsk Tipping for over a decade and stepping into the CEO role in September 2023, Sagstuen publicly accepted responsibility for the incident. “It has been my responsibility to handle the errors that have occurred,” she stated in her resignation. Despite acknowledging the collective effort by staff to rectify the error, she concluded that stepping down was the most appropriate course of action.
The Norsk Tipping Board unanimously supported her decision. Chairwoman Sylvia Brustad praised Sagstuen’s contribution, stating: “We thank Tonje for the important and good job she has done. We are now focused on correcting the mistake and strengthening internal control systems.”
Political Pressure Mounts Amid Calls for Accountability and Transparency
The situation has drawn the attention of Norway’s Minister of Culture, Lubna Jaffery, who oversees the state monopoly. In an official statement, she emphasised: “Norsk Tipping is completely dependent on the trust of the people. The exclusive model depends on that trust.” The Ministry of Culture has confirmed ongoing oversight and expects urgent reform of internal systems.
The minister’s reference to the “exclusive model” underlines the state’s gambling monopoly, where Norsk Tipping is the only legally authorised provider of lotteries and select betting products in Norway. With this privilege comes high expectations around consumer protection, responsible gambling, and operational integrity.
A Turbulent Year for Norsk Tipping and Regulatory Oversight
This latest scandal adds to an already difficult year for Norsk Tipping. In early 2025, the company implemented stricter loss limits for players under 20, citing growing concerns around youth gambling. It has also been under scrutiny by the Norwegian Lottery Authority, following reports that minors may have gained access to gambling services in breach of national laws.
These events have intensified demands for Norsk Tipping to overhaul its internal controls and customer notification systems. While the company has stated it is no longer “actively involved in development,” efforts are reportedly underway to centralise quality assurance and risk oversight.
Restoring Trust in the Wake of Crisis
As Norsk Tipping grapples with reputational damage and regulatory pressure, restoring public trust will be paramount. The resignation of Tonje Sagstuen, while significant, is only one part of the broader reform needed. Ensuring transparency, reinforcing internal checks, and maintaining close collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Norwegian Lottery Authority will be critical steps in safeguarding the integrity of Norway’s gambling model.
If further failings occur, the operator’s monopoly status may come under greater political and public scrutiny, especially in an era when consumer protection, responsible gambling, and digital transparency are central to global gaming governance.
