Fact Check: "Norsk Tipping CEO resigns after shocking lottery payout error"
What We Know
Recently, a significant error occurred involving Norsk Tipping, Norway's state-owned gambling company. On a Friday, the company mistakenly notified "several thousand" individuals that they had won substantial amounts in the Eurojackpot lottery, only to later clarify that these notifications were incorrect due to a conversion error from Eurocents to Norwegian kroner. The error involved multiplying the amounts by 100 instead of dividing by 100, leading to inflated prize notifications (BBC).
The CEO of Norsk Tipping, Tonje Sagstuen, publicly apologized for the mistake and resigned the following day. She expressed her regret, acknowledging the disappointment caused to many who had begun to plan their futures based on the erroneous winnings (Yahoo). The company confirmed that no incorrect payouts had been made, as the correct amounts were updated shortly after the error was discovered (BBC).
Analysis
The claim that the CEO of Norsk Tipping resigned following a lottery payout error is corroborated by multiple reliable sources. The BBC reported on the incident, detailing the nature of the error and the subsequent resignation of Sagstuen (BBC). Yahoo News also covered the story, emphasizing the emotional impact on the affected individuals and the company's acknowledgment of the mistake (Yahoo).
Both sources are credible, with the BBC being a well-established news organization known for its rigorous fact-checking and journalistic standards. Yahoo News, while also reputable, sometimes aggregates news from other sources, which can introduce varying degrees of reliability depending on the original reporting. However, in this case, both outlets report consistent details about the incident, reinforcing the accuracy of the claim.
The resignation of Sagstuen appears to be a direct consequence of the error, as she accepted responsibility for the failure and expressed her sadness over the situation. This aligns with the expectations set by the Ministry of Culture and Equality, which oversees Norsk Tipping, indicating that such errors are unacceptable, particularly given the company's exclusive rights to provide gaming services in Norway (BBC).
Conclusion
The claim that the CEO of Norsk Tipping resigned after a significant lottery payout error is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that an error occurred, leading to inflated notifications of lottery winnings, and that CEO Tonje Sagstuen resigned in the wake of this incident, taking responsibility for the breach of trust with the public.
