Norsk Tipping's miscalculation led to exaggerated prize announcements, prompting the CEO's resignation and a public apology to affected players.
**Lottery Error Leaves Thousands of Norwegians Heartbroken Over Phantom Winnings**
**Lottery Error Leaves Thousands of Norwegians Heartbroken Over Phantom Winnings**
A significant error in Norway's lottery system misinformed thousands of players about their Eurojackpot winnings.
In a major blunder, thousands of Norwegians were led to believe they had won staggering prizes in the Eurojackpot lottery, only to discover that the notifications they received were based on a costly mistake. The state-owned gambling company, Norsk Tipping, announced that "several thousand" players saw inflated amounts on their winning notifications on a recent Friday, leading to widespread excitement and subsequent heartbreak when the figures were corrected.
The CEO of Norsk Tipping, Tonje Sagstuen, faced immense backlash after the error was revealed, resigning from her position just one day later. The issue stemmed from an error in converting Eurocents to Norwegian kroner, where the prize amounts were mistakenly multiplied by 100 instead of being divided by 100, generating error-laden figures that confused recipients.
In a statement, Sagstuen expressed her regret, acknowledging the breach of trust with the public. "I understand that people are angry with us," she stated, recognizing the frustration of those who had begun to plan holidays, home renovations, or new apartment purchases based on their erroneous lottery winnings. She emphasized that no erroneous payouts were made, and accurate amounts were rectified the following evening.
One impacted player recounted her dismay to Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, describing her excitement upon "winning" 1.2 million kroner (approximately $119,000) only to learn she was entitled to a much lower figure. Following the outbreak of discontent, Norsk Tipping convened an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Culture, which oversees the lottery's operations.
During the session, Sagstuen acknowledged the operational failures and took responsibility for the incident. Despite her resignation, she expressed faith in the company's improvement processes. Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery underscored the necessity for rigorous oversight within the exclusive lottery service, asserting that "such mistakes should not happen."
This incident marks another chapter in a series of technical problems that have plagued Norsk Tipping. The organization admitted to having uncovered "several serious errors" in recent months and acknowledged valid criticism from both customers and regulatory bodies. With expectations for systemic improvements in place, the organization aims to restore faith among its player base moving forward.
The CEO of Norsk Tipping, Tonje Sagstuen, faced immense backlash after the error was revealed, resigning from her position just one day later. The issue stemmed from an error in converting Eurocents to Norwegian kroner, where the prize amounts were mistakenly multiplied by 100 instead of being divided by 100, generating error-laden figures that confused recipients.
In a statement, Sagstuen expressed her regret, acknowledging the breach of trust with the public. "I understand that people are angry with us," she stated, recognizing the frustration of those who had begun to plan holidays, home renovations, or new apartment purchases based on their erroneous lottery winnings. She emphasized that no erroneous payouts were made, and accurate amounts were rectified the following evening.
One impacted player recounted her dismay to Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, describing her excitement upon "winning" 1.2 million kroner (approximately $119,000) only to learn she was entitled to a much lower figure. Following the outbreak of discontent, Norsk Tipping convened an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Culture, which oversees the lottery's operations.
During the session, Sagstuen acknowledged the operational failures and took responsibility for the incident. Despite her resignation, she expressed faith in the company's improvement processes. Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery underscored the necessity for rigorous oversight within the exclusive lottery service, asserting that "such mistakes should not happen."
This incident marks another chapter in a series of technical problems that have plagued Norsk Tipping. The organization admitted to having uncovered "several serious errors" in recent months and acknowledged valid criticism from both customers and regulatory bodies. With expectations for systemic improvements in place, the organization aims to restore faith among its player base moving forward.
