A widespread error by Norway’s state-run gambling operator, Norsk Tipping, misled thousands of people into thinking they had won life-changing sums in the Eurojackpot. The incident, which was caused by a faulty currency conversion, resulted in wildly inflated prize notifications being sent to players across the country.

The miscalculation occurred due to a coding issue in the system that processes the Eurojackpot results. Specifically, a mistake in converting eurocents into Norwegian kroner led to the prize amounts being shown as 10,000 times higher than they actually were. Rather than dividing the figures, the system incorrectly multiplied them, creating a flood of false winnings on Friday.

According to Norsk Tipping, the inflated amounts were promptly removed from its app and website that same evening, with the corrected figures uploaded by Saturday. Importantly, the company emphasized that no incorrect payments were disbursed despite the massive communications blunder.

Public Fallout and CEO Resignation

The fallout was swift. Tonje Sagstuen, who had served as Norsk Tipping’s CEO since September 2023 and had been with the company since 2014, stepped down the following day. Her resignation came after an urgent meeting between the company’s board and Norway’s Ministry of Culture.

“I am terribly sorry that we have disappointed so many, and I understand that people are angry with us,” Sagstuen stated in her resignation according to BBC, adding, “Criticism is justified.” She shared that many customers had contacted her, saying they had begun planning holidays, home renovations, or property purchases based on their presumed winnings. “To them I can only say: Sorry! But I understand that it is a small consolation,” she said.

Norsk Tipping Chair Sylvia Brustad confirmed that the board supported Sagstuen’s decision to resign. “The Board and Tonje have concluded that the most important thing now is to calm down the company and the important improvement processes that have been initiated,” she said, acknowledging the intense work pressure leading up to the decision.

Error Impacts Tens of Thousands

The company has not released an official figure for how many individuals were affected, but reports indicate that over 41,000 people were impacted, with 16,000 receiving push notifications displaying incorrect winnings. One woman told NRK she believed she had won 1.2 million kroner during a home renovation, only to find that her prize was substantially lower.

Norsk Tipping attributed the issue to human error rather than a deeper technical flaw, though they noted ongoing system problems in the past year. The gambling operator stated that it had launched an internal investigation to ensure that such a mistake does not happen again.

Vegar Strand, previously Director of Strategy, Analysis, and Business Development, has stepped in as acting CEO. In a statement, Strand expressed deep regret over the situation. “We have greatly disappointed our customers and take full responsibility for cleaning up,” he said. “The work of rebuilding trust has the highest priority going forward.”

Government and Regulator Response

The scandal prompted a sharp response from Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery, who oversees Norsk Tipping. “Such mistakes should not happen,” she told NRK, adding that the ministry expects the board to actively improve internal controls.

The Lottery and Foundations Authority, Norway’s gambling regulator, has also launched a formal review. Communications Director Terje Gilleshammer labeled the incident “a serious matter” and said it could potentially violate the national Gambling Act. A full assessment is expected following a meeting scheduled for July 1.

In recent months, Norsk Tipping has been the subject of increasing scrutiny due to various operational issues. The company acknowledged that multiple serious errors had been identified, and the regulator had voiced strong criticism of its technical reliability.