The Norwegian Lottery Authority has confirmed a NOK25m fine against Norsk Tipping after a technical malfunction in the 19 April Super Draw resulted in 52 unintended winners. The incident was caused by a systems error that deleted bets submitted at cooperative banks during the Christmas and New Year period, leaving the draw to be conducted with an incomplete set of valid wagers. Investigators noted that regulators had previously identified concerns and had even considered suspending the draw. However, the operator provided assurances that the system would function properly, assurances that were later proven incorrect after further examination.
This penalty is part of a broader pattern of compliance issues for the state-owned operator, which has accumulated more than NOK100m in fines over the past year alone. Previous incidents include an erroneous NOK25m prize payout, failures in self-exclusion functionality for iOS users, long-term drawing errors that generated elevated winning probabilities for certain groups, and incorrect prize notifications sent to thousands of customers. Each case has contributed to growing regulatory concern about the reliability of the operator’s technical infrastructure and its adherence to mandated control processes.
The authority confirmed that a comprehensive inspection of major lottery products, including Lotto, Eurojackpot and Vikinglotto, remains ongoing. Regulators emphasised that ensuring accurate draw execution and maintaining robust system oversight are essential responsibilities for a national lottery operator. Norsk Tipping has refunded stakes to affected players, but the wider implications highlight the importance of technological resilience and rigorous procedural compliance.
The latest action signals a continued effort by regulators to enforce higher standards and address recurring operational challenges within Norway’s gaming framework.
