Fact Check: Thousands in Norway mistakenly notified of winning millions in lottery error
What We Know
Recently, a significant error occurred involving Norsk Tipping, Norway's state-owned gambling company, which mistakenly notified "several thousand" lottery players that they had won excessively high amounts in the Eurojackpot. The error was attributed to a faulty conversion from Eurocents to Norwegian kroner, where the prize amounts were multiplied by 100 instead of being divided by 100, leading to inflated figures being communicated to the winners (BBC). Norsk Tipping's CEO, Tonje Sagstuen, publicly apologized for the mistake and resigned the following day, acknowledging the breach of trust and the disappointment caused to the players (BBC).
The company clarified that no incorrect payouts were made, and the correct amounts were updated shortly after the error was discovered (BBC). Reports indicated that some individuals had already begun planning significant purchases based on the erroneous notifications, such as home renovations and vacations (BBC).
Analysis
The claim that thousands in Norway were mistakenly notified of winning millions in a lottery error is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The BBC reported on the incident, detailing how Norsk Tipping communicated incorrect prize amounts to lottery players and the subsequent resignation of the CEO due to the fallout from the error (BBC).
Furthermore, CBS News and The Guardian corroborated this information, confirming that the mistake affected a significant number of individuals and that the company took immediate steps to rectify the situation (CBS News, The Guardian).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of accurate reporting. The BBC, in particular, is known for its rigorous journalistic standards. The incident has also sparked discussions about the operational integrity of Norsk Tipping, which has faced criticism in the past for various errors and technical problems (BBC).
Conclusion
The claim that "thousands in Norway mistakenly notified of winning millions in lottery error" is True. The evidence presented from multiple reputable sources confirms that a significant number of lottery players received incorrect notifications regarding their winnings due to a conversion error. The swift response from Norsk Tipping, including an apology and the resignation of its CEO, further validates the seriousness of the mistake.
