Thousands of Norwegians this week jumped for joy when they received a notification from the country’s state-owned lottery company to say they had become millionaires – only to later be told that it was a mistake.
Norsk Tipping said a ‘manual error’ resulted in its customers being told that they had won ‘excessively high prizes’ on Friday morning and that the sums won had been ‘multiplied by 100’ rather than being divided by that amount.
The gambling company is overseen by the country’s Ministry of Culture, who met in an emergency meeting on Saturday morning with the company’s CEO Tonje Sagstuen and Chairperson Sylvia Brustad.
In the aftermath of the event, Ms Sagstuen said: ‘I am terribly sorry that we have disappointed so many, and I understand that people are angry with us.
‘I have received many messages from people who had managed to make plans for holidays, buying an apartment or renovating before they realized that the amount was wrong.
‘To them I can only say: Sorry! But I understand that it is a small consolation.’
In a statement titled ‘We are sorry to have disappointed so many’, the company said the error had been caused when converting Eurocents to Noreweigan croner.
They said it had been ‘discovered too late’ which resulted in ‘several thousand players’ receiving the false notifications – but that no one had been paid the incorrect amounts.
Thousands of Norwegians this week jumped for joy when they received a notification from the country’s state-owned lottery company to say they had become millionaires – only to later be told that it was a mistake (File Image)
In the aftermath of the event, Norsk Tipping CEO Tonje Sagstuen (above) said she was ‘terriblt sorry’
‘Norsk Tipping has been heavily criticised by individual customers, the Norwegian Lottery Authority and the Minister of Culture,’ the statement continued.
‘Several serious errors have been uncovered in the company in recent months, and Friday’s incident comes on top of these.’
Ms Sagstuen, who has since resigned, added: ‘The criticism is justified, and we understand of course that this is a breach of trust.
‘I once again apologize to those to whom we gave false hopes. Here, things have failed in several places, and that is my responsibility.’
The Guardian reported that a couple in Herøy believed they had won £87,000, while Lise Naustdal said it was a ‘very fun minute’ when she thought she had pocketed £138,000.
Announcing her resignation from the post she had held since September 2023, Ms Sagstuen added: ‘As a manager, it has been my responsibility to handle the mistakes that have occurred.
‘Therefore, it is also incredibly sad to leave Norsk Tipping and all the talented people who work in Hamar. I will miss everyone I have worked with, but I am confident that all the improvement processes we have initiated are in good hands.’
Norsk Tipping is reportedly continuing its investigations into the incident.
