Norsk Tipping Fined NOK 46 Million Over Lottery Draw Errors
Norway’s state-owned lottery operator, Norsk Tipping, has been ordered to pay a substantial fine of NOK 46 million (approximately $4.5 million) following the discovery of a persistent error affecting its Eurojackpot and Lotto “super draws.” This violation was uncovered by the nation’s gambling regulatory authority.
Lottery Error Benefits Group Entries Over Individual Players
The Norwegian Lottery and Foundations Authority revealed that a technical glitch gave an unfair advantage to players participating via syndicates, group betting pools, or cooperative banks, compared to those purchasing tickets individually. This issue began in 2015 for Lotto and in 2016 for Eurojackpot, impacting millions of participants across thousands of draws.
Investigations indicated that although group entries comprised only about 4% of the total bets in some years, they accounted for up to 38% of the winnings from the extra prize draws. Authorities concluded that every draw affected during this period produced skewed results, undermining the integrity and trust in these games.
Norsk Tipping addressed the problem once it was fully understood in early 2025. However, regulators criticized the company for delayed action, noting warning signs emerged as early as November 2024. Despite internal concerns, several draws proceeded before the issue was rectified. This response was labeled as negligent by the regulator, citing that a dominant market player should have had systems in place to prevent such prolonged faults.
Repeated Mistakes Draw Scrutiny on Norway’s Lottery Monopoly
This fine is not the first major penalty Norsk Tipping has faced recently. Over the past year, the operator was fined NOK 36 million ($3.6 million) for shortcomings in its self-exclusion system and an additional NOK 2.5 million ($249,760) due to a casino payout error. These consecutive incidents have prompted regulators to conduct a comprehensive review of games including Lotto, Eurojackpot, and Vikinglotto to ensure regulatory compliance moving forward.
The imposed fine amount represents roughly 0.45% of Norsk Tipping’s revenue for 2024. Although the regulator considered this penalty appropriate, they acknowledged the gravity of the violations could have warranted an even higher fine.
The controversy has reignited political debate regarding gambling regulations in Norway. Some policymakers advocate for introducing licensed competitors to the market, believing this could raise operational standards and enhance player protection. As neighboring countries adopt more open gambling markets, Norway risks becoming the last Nordic nation maintaining a gambling monopoly by 2027.
Regulatory authorities emphasize that restoring public trust in the fairness and transparency of lottery games is critical. Norsk Tipping faces increasing pressure to meet these expectations as ongoing investigations continue.
