Norsk Tipping names Trond Bentestuen as next CEO

Bentestuen takes charge after a turbulent year for the state-run gambling operator, marked by regulatory scrutiny and financial penalties.

Norway.- The Norwegian state-owned gambling operator Norsk Tipping has confirmed the appointment of Trond Bentestuen as its next chief executive. He will take the reins from Vegar Strand, who stepped in as interim CEO following Tonje Sagstuen’s departure amid a series of controversial technical and regulatory failings.

Bentestuen most recently served three years as chief executive of building materials retailer Løvenskiold Handel. His career also includes time as CEO of supermarket chain REMA 1000 Norge. Prior to that, he spent more than a decade at DNB, holding senior positions such as group executive vice president for personal banking as well as wealth management and insurance.

On LinkedIn, Bentestuen described his enthusiasm for the role: “Norsk Tipping is a unique company with a very special social mission. Namely, to ensure responsible gaming and the prevention of gambling addiction are combined with efficient operations that ensure that as much of the revenue as possible goes to good causes. Society has decided that this balancing act is best solved within the framework of the exclusive rights model. At the same time, Norsk Tipping should deliver world-class offers and services. It will be fun to work with.”

Norsk Tipping chair Sylvia Brustad praised the incoming CEO. She said: “Trond’s broad management experience and personal qualities make me confident that he is the right person for Norsk Tipping to deliver on the adopted main ambitions of a society without gambling problems, world-class digital customer experiences and strong power to change.”

Bentestuen takes charge after a turbulent year for the operator, marked by regulatory scrutiny and financial penalties.

In February, the Norwegian gambling regulator Lotteritilsynet issued a fine of NOK36m (€3m) after discovering players had been unable to self-exclude for five months in 2024. That was followed by subsequent penalties for technical flaws in Eurojackpot and Lotto draws and for picking the wrong lottery winners. Further sanctions may still be imposed as investigations continue.

Sagstuen stepped down in late June after the gambling operator published inaccurate prize amounts for a lottery draw, giving thousands of players incorrect information. Some 41,000 Norwegian players were said to have been affected, with 16,000 receiving push notifications informing them of inaccurate wins.

Strand has since stressed that Norsk Tipping is working to correct its operational shortcomings. In December, he said that 22 of 25 auditor recommendations had been implemented.

Bentestuen’s start date has yet to be confirmed.