Norsk Tipping Eurojackpot Fiasco Fuels Calls to End Gambling Monopolies in the Nordics

Norsk Tipping’s recent Eurojackpot debacle has reignited debate over the future of state gambling monopolies, with Nordic trade association leaders arguing the scandal illustrates why such operators cannot be trusted without stricter regulation. For them, the incident is not just a local embarrassment but “exhibit A” against monopoly control of gambling markets. Tens of thousands of Norwegians were wrongly told they had won millions of kroner, only to discover it was a mistake.

The fallout was swift: Norsk Tipping’s CEO stepped down and public confidence in the monopoly collapsed. Yet despite the uproar, both Eurojackpot and Norsk Tipping carried on largely unchanged, leaving critics to question accountability.

Eurojackpot is organized as a transnational lottery spanning 19 countries, each run by its own national monopoly. But there is no unified oversight body. While all operate under the Eurojackpot brand, the draw effectively regulates itself. No supranational authority enforces standards, and each monopoly defends its territory. As a result, when one jurisdiction fails, the rest continue unaffected. The risk, critics say, is shouldered entirely by players.

Norwegian players learned the consequences of this setup on June 27. Finland, which manages the Eurojackpot draw for all participating states, distributed the results file to its 18 counterparts. But a technical error caused prize amounts in Norway to be multiplied instead of divided. A payout that should have been €3.50 was reported as €350,000. Thousands of Norwegians received messages claiming life-changing jackpots when in reality they had won only a few hundred kroner.

The blunder was not immediately disclosed. Families began mapping out new futures, only to discover through the media that they had been misled. The confusion unfolded late on a Friday night, but Norsk Tipping waited until Monday morning to issue an apology, claiming officials had “not had time” to notify players directly. For many, the explanation rang hollow. Critics labeled the handling unforgivable.

The outrage was compounded by Eurojackpot’s very structure, which is designed to drive up jackpots and promote the fantasy of extraordinary wins. On June 27, that dream collapsed spectacularly for Norwegian players.

State monopolies such as Norsk Tipping have long defended their existence by stressing responsible gaming and consumer protection. But detractors argue reality is far different: without competition and free from external scrutiny, these operators answer only when forced by scandal. “No one should be their own supervisor,” industry voices warn.

Advocates of open licensing point to its advantages: competing operators subject to uniform, enforceable rules, continuous oversight, and rapid punishment for breaches. Under such systems, no company can hide behind political protection or national borders. For consumers and for society, they argue, licensing brings accountability.

Even as the scandal reverberates, the problems persist. On August 19, Norsk Tipping sent another message to players: the Eurojackpot prize forecast would be delayed due to “a delay at the control centre in Germany.” Results would follow “as soon as everything is ready,” the monopoly said.

Once again, Eurojackpot operated entirely on its own terms. No external authority imposed deadlines, quality controls, or sanctions. For critics, the episode underscores how 19 countries can pool profits without sharing responsibility. With scandals eroding trust, many ask if gambling monopolies remain viable in 2025. If the system is broken, as the trade chiefs argue, it must either be repaired—or replaced.

By fLEXI tEAM