Norsk Rikstoto Under Investigation After Glitch Led to 23,000 Unpaid Bets

Norsk Rikstoto, Norway’s state-owned horse racing betting operator, is being investigated by the Norwegian Gambling Authority (Lotteritilsynet) after a system malfunction enabled thousands of bets to be placed without payment in two separate incidents earlier this year.

Why Is Norsk Rikstoto Being Investigated?

The incident, first reported by Trav-og Galopp-Nytt, took place between February 3 and 5. Over 5,000 customers placed 23,716 bets that were accepted into betting pools without any money being collected. These wagers were processed like regular entries across major racing pools, making them eligible for payouts even though no funds had been transferred.

A similar problem arose again on March 25, involving bets placed without payment. The regulator was informed on April 15, missing the 72-hour reporting deadline for serious incidents. In a follow-up letter dated April 20, the authority requested an explanation for the delay, questioned why loss limits were not triggered in the second case, and asked whether its earlier inquiries had been fully addressed.

The estimated financial loss is between EUR 100,000 and EUR 200,000 (about $117,000 to $240,000). However, the true impact could be considerably higher once payout structures and the reinvestment of winnings are factored in. Rikstoto has not yet disclosed the precise figures.

What Is the Regulator’s Position on the Matter?

Lotteritilsynet has made its stance clear: all gambling must involve a paid stake, and both free bets and credit betting are prohibited under Norwegian law.

The regulator is now examining whether prize pools were calculated as though the unpaid stakes had actually been contributed. If that proves to be the case, payouts to all participants may have been distorted. It has also questioned why no loss-limit breaches were recorded in the second incident and whether earlier inquiries related to the February malfunction were fully addressed.

Lotteritilsynet has requested a comprehensive report from Rikstoto covering both incidents, and regulatory action may follow once the investigation is complete.

The problems emerged after Rikstoto transitioned to a new betting platform supplied by Betmakers—a move that appears to have introduced persistent technical difficulties. Industry observers note that repeated failures of this kind can have wider implications, including reduced funding for beneficiaries reliant on betting revenue, heightened regulatory scrutiny, and a decline in player trust.

Norsk Rikstoto’s recent fumbles aren’t the only ones that have prompted Lotteritilsynet to sanction the horse racing betting operator in recent months. For example, back in late 2025, the gambling authority fined Norsk Rikstoto because the operator allowed more than 800 customers to wager beyond their loss limits.