(AsiaGameHub) –   A critical system failure at Norway’s state-controlled operator Norsk Rikstoto allowed thousands of users to place bets without payment, exposing the company to potential multi-million losses.

Between February 3rd and 5th, a total of 5,158 players placed 23,716 unpaid bets. Despite not being charged, these bets remained included in prize pools for major Norwegian racetracks (such as V75) and Swedish racetracks (like V86), allowing participants to compete as if they had paid for the wagers.

Initial estimates suggest losses could range between €100,000 and €200,000 (NOK 1.2 million to NOK 2.4 million); this figure may increase depending on payout calculations and how winnings are redistributed within the system.

The Norwegian Gaming Authority has indicated that the incident may constitute violations of Norwegian gambling laws, which require all bets to be made using real money and prohibit free or credit-based betting. Despite these legal breaches, the unpaid bets were processed normally and remained eligible for payouts.

Norsk Rikstoto chose not to charge customers for the unpaid bets, citing concerns that doing so might cause players to exceed their responsible gambling limits.

On March 25th, a similar incident occurred involving unpaid bets; however, the Gambling Authority was only notified about it on April 15th—missing the mandatory 72-hour reporting window for significant disruptions.

The problems emerged following a system upgrade by Betmakers, the provider of Norsk Rikstoto’s gaming platform, which appears to have triggered persistent technical issues.

For Norsk Rikstoto, resolving the technical problems is just one part of the challenge—restoring public confidence in the fairness and reliability of its platform is now equally urgent.