The whole of Spain is looking hopefully to the Madrid Opera House: the Spanish Christmas lottery draw takes place at the Teatro Real two days before Christmas Eve – and this year it is paying out record winnings.
Dec 22, 2025, 05:57Dec 22, 2025, 05:57
In total, more than 2.77 billion euros will be distributed – around 70 million euros more than last year. The ceremony begins on Monday at 9 a.m. The lottery, founded more than 200 years ago, is considered the oldest in the world and is also known as the largest raffle because of the total amount.
The Spanish Christmas lottery has cult status: In the picture, ticket buyers in Barcelona.Image: keystone
Only a minority escapes the mass euphoria – millions join in. Everyone is hoping for “El Gordo”, the “fat guy” – because that’s what the main prize is called. It amounts to four million euros for a whole lot. This year it will be paid out 198 times – five times more than in 2024. The background is the special system of this lottery: each of the 100,000 ticket numbers is issued and sold more and more frequently every year due to increasing demand.
You can buy a whole ticket for 200 euros, or make do with one or two tenth tickets for 20 euros each. Many friends, families, work or club colleagues and even residents of entire villages often come together to take part and cheer together. Statistically speaking, each Spaniard spent 76.08 euros this year, 2.20 euros more than last year.
An audience of millions is glued to the TV screens
In total, 70 percent of the sales proceeds go to the winners. This income has increased continuously in recent years and is now almost four billion euros.
The winning numbers are recited by singing by students from the traditional San Ildefonso boarding school. There are two lottery drums. In the first, larger one there are 100,000 wooden balls with the lottery numbers, in the second there are around 1,800 wooden balls with the winning amounts. During the draw, two balls fall from the two drums into a glass bowl at the same time.
Since there are numerous smaller prizes drawn in addition to the main prize, the ceremony usually lasts four to five hours. That’s how long an audience of millions sits on site and live in front of the TV screens at home, in cafés and gazes spellbound at the stage. Work then also comes to a halt in many offices. It is a ritual that is an integral part of the time before Christmas for the Spanish. (sda/dpa)