Spain’s Christmas lottery spreads riches, brings cheer to wildfire-hit Leon province
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People in Spain's Leon province celebrate winning the first prize in the national “El Gordo” (The Fat One) lottery on Dec 22.
PHOTO: EPA
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- Spain's Christmas lottery distributed €2.77 billion in prizes, increasing from €2.70 billion in 2023.
- Many winners of “El Gordo” live in Leon, a province recently devastated by wildfires, bringing them emotional relief.
- The draw at Madrid's Teatro Real, featuring pupils and audience members, was briefly interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.
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MADRID - Spain’s Christmas lottery showered €2.77 billion (S$4.2 billion) in prizes on Dec 22, with a significant number of winners of the top award, “El Gordo” (The Fat One) living in Leon province that was ravaged by wildfires
“After the terrible summer we’ve been through with the wildfires, which was horrible, I’m very emotional – it’s overwhelming, I can hardly believe it,” lottery winner Laura told radio station SER.
The state-run draw’s total prize pot edged up from 2024’s €2.70 billion.
In the nationally televised draw at Madrid’s Teatro Real, pupils from San Ildefonso school picked the winning numbers from two revolving globes, a tradition dating back more than 200 years that marks the start of Spain’s festive season.
Audience members queued for hours to enter, wearing Santa hats, regional costumes and their personal lucky charms.
A significant number of winners of the “El Gordo” (The Fat One) top award live in Leon province.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The draw was briefly interrupted when a small group of protesters stood up inside the theatre, shouting pro-Palestinian slogans, before the ceremony resumed.
Lottery mania grips Spain in the weeks leading up to the Christmas draw, with families, friends and co-workers pooling money for tickets or fractions of tickets, often favouring “lucky” vendors or numbers.
Spaniards spend an average of €66.60 on El Gordo tickets, according to vendors’ association Anapal.
The best-selling ticket, dubbed “decimo” (tenth), costs €20 and its holders can earn 10 per cent of the prize money awarded. REUTERS
