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A potentially historic class action lawsuit is being prepared against Norsk Tipping, Norway’s state-owned gambling monopoly, after it emerged that parts of the company’s lottery draw systems had been operating with incorrect probability mechanics for close to a decade.
iGamingToday had already picked up indications that legal action could be on the way, after the issue was referenced during a public panel discussion in Stockholm earlier this fall, where Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm was speaking. The legal process has now moved closer to formal action.
The background to the case stems from an investigation first reported by the Norwegian newspaper VG, which earlier this year revealed errors in the draw mechanism used for the national Eurojackpot bonus prize.
According to the law firm behind the case, the group action could expand rapidly. Players who took part in Lotto and Eurojackpot over recent years are now being invited to join the claim via a dedicated website, with the number of participants potentially reaching hundreds or even thousands. For those signing up, there is no financial risk involved.
Allegations: A Product That Didn’t Match the Promise
At the core of the planned lawsuit is a straightforward question: did Norsk Tipping deliver the product it sold?
The plaintiffs argue that it did not. Reviews of the draw systems found that incorrect probability mechanics were used in certain supplementary draws, meaning players may have been wagering under false assumptions.
The issue was not confined to Eurojackpot alone. The same draw engine was also used in Lotto’s “Super Draw”, a high-profile extra draw that creates dozens of new millionaires four times a year.
Regulator: A Decade of Errors
Norway’s gambling regulator, Lotteritilsynet, later concluded that incorrect winners had been selected for approximately ten years. The regulator imposed a NOK 46 million (€4 million) fine, describing Norsk Tipping’s conduct as grossly negligent.
An external review by KPMG reinforced that conclusion, pointing to material breaches of Norway’s Gambling Act. The report also noted that Norsk Tipping itself acknowledged that customer terms and game rules for the Lotto Super Draw had been violated.
Norsk Tipping: Not Formally Served Yet
Norsk Tipping has confirmed that it has been informed that a class action is being prepared, but says it has not yet formally received the writ.
The company has nevertheless indicated that it will contest the claim, maintaining that the main draws in both Eurojackpot and Lotto were carried out with correct odds, and that the identified problems relate only to supplementary bonus draws.
Why Players Carry No Financial Risk
Class actions under Norwegian law require a single group representative to assume formal legal responsibility. In this case, Jørgen Johansen, a board member of the Norwegian Gambling Association, has agreed to take on that role.
The case is being handled by Sands Advokatfirma on a “no cure, no pay” basis. If the claim does not succeed, the Norwegian Online Gambling Trade Association has committed to covering the defendant’s legal costs. The association represents several international gambling operators, including Betsson Group and ComeOn.
For individual players considering whether to join, that structure effectively removes the financial downside.
More Than a Technical Dispute
Norsk Tipping has suggested that the planned lawsuit forms part of a broader effort by international operators to challenge Norway’s monopoly-based gambling model.
Those behind the case reject that framing, arguing that the dispute is about consumer protection and restitution rather than gambling policy. From their perspective, the question is not ideological, but practical: how to deal with the consequences of a system that, for years, did not function as intended.
A Case With Unusual Scale
From a procedural standpoint, the case appears unusually well suited to collective legal action. A large number of players are affected, the legal basis is shared, and the individual claims are relatively small.
If the court allows the case to proceed, it could become one of the largest class actions in Norwegian history, at least in terms of the number of participants involved.
