Key Moments:
- 836 customers placed around NOK 4 million in wagers above allowed betting limits
- System error occurred between December 2022 and September 17, 2025
- Refunds will be provided to all affected players as Norsk Rikstoto enhances oversight
Programming Error Exposes Limitations in Safeguards
Norsk Rikstoto, the exclusive operator for horse betting in Norway, has revealed a significant programming issue in its platform. The technical fault, which remained undetected for months, enabled certain users to surpass set betting limits, undermining regulatory safeguards designed to promote responsible gambling.
Incident Details and Timelines
The company reported that 836 customers were able to wager more than their legally enforced caps from December 2022 to September 17, 2025. The cumulative excess betting amounted to approximately NOK 4 million. While most individuals breached their limits by under NOK 500, seven participants exceeded their restrictions by over NOK 100,000.
Discovery and Rectification
The malfunction surfaced on September 15, following a customer flagging that their spending limits had not held during betting on Andelstorget, a pooled group wagering product. Within two days, Norsk Rikstoto identified and resolved the issue, which originated from the processing of reserved funds in group bets.
The Board of Directors, the Norwegian Gaming Authority (Lotteritilsynet), and the Ministry of Culture have all received notifications regarding the breach.
| Affected Customers | Total Excess Bets | Number Exceeding NOK 100,000 | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 836 | NOK 4 million | 7 | December 2022 – September 17, 2025 |
Taking Responsibility and Next Steps
– The deviation was due to a programming error in our systems, which has now been corrected. We deeply regret this, said Camilla Garmann, CEO of Norsk Rikstoto.
The organization has pledged to reimburse all affected players and is actively reviewing its controls and testing processes to mitigate the risk of further issues. Garmann underscored the challenge in detecting the specific error and reinforced the company’s dedication to responsible gambling oversight:
– We will review our procedures to reduce the risk of such errors happening again.
Increased Regulatory Attention
This episode highlights wider challenges in Norway’s gambling sector, where system weaknesses have drawn criticism and threaten to erode confidence in the state-run monopoly approach. As Norsk Rikstoto moves to correct course, regulatory bodies may subject its processes to further examination to ensure adequate enforcement of responsible gambling mandates.
- Author
Daniel Williams
