Norsk Tipping, a Norwegian state-owned lottery operator, can potentially receive its third fine in a span of just one year after an extensive investigation revealed that Lotto and Eurojackpots have been mishandled for several years.
More specifically, the investigation found that because of the peculiar way the draws were made, tickets from co-operative banks, gaming clubs, and syndicates had a better chance at winning than they would normally have.
What is even more concerning is that these errors were traced back to 2021; however, the investigation showed that they may have been occurring way before 2021.
Norsk Tipping first learned about this potential problem in 2024, yet the company failed to investigate any further. In fact, the Norwegian operator even proceeded to carry out two additional draws even after informing the Norwegian Gambling Authority that there were potential faults in the system.
Additionally, it is believed that Norsk Tipping already had information that the main draw in Lotto had been incorrect for up to a month before the company made an effort to investigate.
After this third potential penalty, Norsk Tipping has already received two fines in 2024, having previously received a NOK4.5 million penalty for wrongfully paying out from the KongoKasino Game, with this case yet to be settled.
Yet another fine in the vicinity of NOK36 million was also used after an error at Norsk Tipping prevented players from excluding themselves from betting and gambling websites.
As a result of these irregularities, Norsk Tipping could potentially face $4.4 million (NOK46 million) in penalty fees. This represents 0.45% of the total turnover of Norsk Tipping, and the company has given three weeks to file a complaint or issue an explanation before the Norwegian Lottery Authority reveals its final decision.
Atle Hamar, Director of the Lottery and Foundations Authority of Norway, commented on this development:
There have been wrong winners in every single draw over several years. Norsk Tipping generally has a strong focus on safe gambling. This is still a serious matter that has affected millions of players and is a significant violation of the law. This means that the error has affected millions of players. Norsk Tipping must have better control over the games they offer and must prepare for use to tighten control.
Since the revelation of these irregularities, the Norwegian Gambling Authority has started the process of drafting a new set of regulations that will mandate the use of independent testing organizations to check whether the lottery games are robust enough for the market.
Additionally, the Norwegian Lottery Authority obliged Norsk Tipping to come up with safety measures to reduce the risk in relation to computer games and online casino entertainment that targets the younger audience.
