Norsk Tipping Faces NOK 36 Million Fine for Self-Exclusion Tool Failure
Norwegian gambling regulator Lotteritilsynet has announced its intention to fine Norsk Tipping up to NOK 36 million after a system failure prevented Apple users from accessing the self-exclusion tool. The issue, traced back to an iOS update, remained unresolved for months, raising concerns about player protection.
Technical Error Led to Self-Exclusion Failure
In May 2024, a customer reported being unable to use the self-exclusion feature in Norsk Tipping’s gambling app on Apple devices. The company later identified the issue as stemming from an iOS update in January 2024 and took immediate action to fix it. Norsk Tipping voluntarily reported the issue to Lotteritilsynet in June 2024, confirming that the problem had been resolved. Since then, the company has provided full documentation and participated in two meetings with the regulator.
Regulator’s Justification for the Fine
Lotteritilsynet considers the failure a serious breach of Norway’s Gambling Act, specifically Section 7, third paragraph, and the associated regulations. The regulator argues that protecting vulnerable players is Norsk Tipping’s primary responsibility and that the company should have systems in place to detect and correct such errors immediately. The fine takes into account the duration of the issue and the company’s level of responsibility.
Norsk Tipping CEO Tonje Sagstuen acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating:
“We agree with Lotteritilsynet that this is a serious issue and will accept the fine. Reporting significant incidents, even when it leads to regulatory action, is part of our model. This strong oversight ensures we maintain the world’s most responsible gambling regulation.”
Ensuring Future Compliance
Although customers could still self-exclude via Norsk Tipping’s website, customer service, gaming terminals, and unaffected devices, Lotteritilsynet deemed these alternatives insufficient. In response, Norsk Tipping has implemented improved monitoring procedures to prevent similar incidents. “This is a critical lesson for us. Our self-exclusion and pause tools must always be easily accessible,” Sagstuen added.
The proposed fine amounts to NOK 36 million, equivalent to 0.35% of Norsk Tipping’s 2024 revenue. The company will now work with the regulator to finalize the penalty and ensure compliance with all future technical safeguards.