A man from Norway, Ole Fredrik Sveen, experienced a brief moment of elation when he thought he won a staggering £97,000 in the Eurojackpot lottery, only to discover minutes later that a significant error had occurred. Sveen described the emotional rollercoaster he experienced in a first-person piece published in The Guardian.
While on holiday in Greece with his girlfriend in June 2023, Sveen remarked on their dream of purchasing a holiday home. He jokingly said, “I’d need to win the lottery first!” Little did he know that his playful comment would take a surprising turn later that day.
As they enjoyed a picturesque sunset, his phone buzzed with a notification from Norsk Tipping, the Norwegian lottery corporation. The message proclaimed that he had won big, prompting the 30-year-old to read it multiple times in disbelief. “My hands were starting to shake as I logged into the app and saw a notification saying I had won 1.3 million kroner,” he recalled.
Elated, Sveen immediately called his mother to share the incredible news. “I’ve won the lottery!” he exclaimed, and his mother could hardly believe it. “You’re due some luck your way,” she laughed, sharing in his excitement.
Despite the initial joy, Sveen’s happiness was short-lived. Upon checking the winning numbers more closely, he realized that he had only matched two main numbers and one bonus number. “My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach,” he recounted, understanding that something was amiss.
Sveen soon discovered that Norsk Tipping had made a mistake in converting the prize money from euros to Norwegian kroner. The lottery operator mistakenly multiplied the winnings by 100, rather than dividing them, leading to inflated prize amounts. This error impacted thousands of players who were similarly misled into thinking they had won life-changing sums.
“The lottery feels tainted for me now; I don’t play any more,” Sveen stated, now accepting that he was indeed lucky in love but perhaps not in games. He added, “There’s a saying in Norway: ‘You’re either lucky in love or games.’ I have to accept that I’m lucky in love, and that’s my lot.”
In light of the situation, Norsk Tipping CEO Tonje Sagstuen publicly apologized and resigned a day later. The company acknowledged the error, explaining that the amount received from Germany in euros had been miscalculated. Local media reported that this incident has left a significant mark on the lottery’s reputation.
As Sveen adjusts to this unexpected outcome, he reflects on the fleeting nature of hope and the reality of chance. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of verification in matters where fortunes can change in an instant.
