Your Complete Guide To Spain’s El Gordo Lottery For 2023

Posted: December 20, 2023

Updated: December 20, 2023

It's coming up to the time of Spain's Lotería de Navidad 2023, otherwise known as El Gordo, or "the fat one." Though complete tickets are very expensive, most people buy a part of a single numbered ticket, and usually do so with a group or friends or family members. Winning tickets can be brought in bars, special lottery shops, restaurants, and online.

Spain’s cherished Christmas tradition, the ‘El Gordo’ or ‘The Fat One’ lottery, stands as an integral part of the holiday celebrations in Spain. Its grandeur is unparalleled, tracing back to its inception in 1812, maintaining an unbroken tradition of drawing on the 22nd of December each year. Remarkably, even amidst national crises like the Spanish Civil War or the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the El Gordo lottery persevered.

But what exactly is the El Gordo lottery? Why does it hold such significance? And perhaps most enticingly, what fortunes could you win? With Christmas just around the corner, let’s explore the essence of this institution with Gamingzion.com, along with all the essential details you need to know in order to take part.

How Much Can You Win?

The prizes offered by El Gordo lottery hold significant allure, elucidating the lottery’s widespread appeal. In 2022, the prize pool amounts to a staggering €2.4 billion. The pinnacle of this is the renowned El Gordo, valued at 680 million euros, shared among all tickets with winning numbers—translating to an impressive €400,000 per décimo. Following this, the second prize stands at €125,000 per décimo, while the third reaches €50,000. Subsequently, the fourth prize totals €20,000 per décimo, with two of these prizes available, succeeded by eight fifth prizes worth €6,000 per décimo, along with 1,794 prizes of €100 per décimo.

A total of 172 million décimos will be available for sale, presenting ample opportunities to secure a win. The odds are notably favourable, with a remarkable 1 in 6 chance of claiming a prize, rendering El Gordo lottery one of Europe’s most generous lotteries. This generosity significantly contributes to the nationwide obsession with the ‘El Gordo’ lottery in Spain. Approximately one in seven Spanish adults partakes in the Christmas lottery, with the average resident spending €63.82 on purchasing lottery tickets, reflecting the widespread participation and enthusiasm for the event.

El Gordo Lottery History

The history of El Gordo is steeped in legacy, commencing its inaugural draw on the 22nd of December, 1812. Remarkably, it stands as the world’s second oldest lottery.

Initially held in Cadiz, its journey traversed during the Spanish Civil War, relocating to Valencia. Post-war, the lottery found its way back to Madrid, where it remains rooted to this day.

Essential Vocabulary For The Spanish Christmas Lottery

Before considering the purchase of a full lottery ticket (bearing in mind it costs €200), it’s crucial to familiarise yourself with the terminology. Here are key terms frequently used in relation to the Spanish Christmas lottery:

Billete: A complete lottery ticket, priced at €200. It comprises 10 décimos sharing the same number within the same series. The drawing involves 170 series, and there are 170 billetes for every número.
Décimo: One-tenth of a lottery ticket, available for €20.
Número: The primary five-digit number belonging to a billete, décimo, or participación.
Participación: A smaller portion of a décimo. Often, small businesses or individuals purchase décimos and then divide them into several participaciones, which are sold at a price set by the décimo owner.
Serie: A collection of billetes sharing the same número. Each serie encompasses 100,000 billetes.

How Do You Play?

The ticketing system for El Gordo lottery is intricate: You can’t simply stroll into any newsagent and handpick your preferred numbers. Instead, each lottery outlet offers distinct numbers. You’re typically left with the choice of either selecting from the numbers available at your local shop (the common practice) or embarking on a quest across locations for specific numbers. Consequently, the major winners of El Gordo often hail from the same area, having purchased their tickets from the same lottery outlet. If you seek particular numbers, online tracking tools like El Mundo‘s can assist in locating them.

Another crucial aspect to consider is that your lottery number won’t be exclusive; each number repeats up to 172 times. Hence, despite El Gordo’s total prize of 680 million euros, each winner only claims 400 thousand euros. A full ticket costs 200 euros, yet many opt for a tenth of a ticket, known as a décimo, priced at 20 euros. This fractional purchase method is favoured by most ticket buyers. Sometimes, smaller portions of a décimo are offered, where businesses or social groups purchase a full ticket and then sell smaller shares, called participaciones, for €1 each.

Where To Buy El Gordo Lottery Tickets

If you’re inclined to try your luck with the lottery while in Spain, you can procure tickets from specialised lottery shops. However, it’s common to encounter ticket offerings in your local bar, beloved restaurants, or through collective ventures like friendship groups or workplace syndicates, as previously mentioned. Frequently, individuals opt to purchase a share of multiple tickets to ensure inclusion in case any of these groups strike a win.

After all, no one wishes to be the individual who missed buying a ticket if their colleagues hit the El Gordo lottery jackpot! You can also buy tickets online through specialist lottery websites like theLotter. Tickets remain available in lottery shops until 10 pm on December 21st or can be obtained online until 11:45 pm.

What Happens On Draw Day?

The eagerly anticipated lottery numbers are drawn on the 22nd of December, igniting excitement nationwide in Spain. Commencing at 9 am and spanning approximately 3 hours, households across the country gather around their televisions. In a time-honoured tradition, the numbers are vocalised by students from Madrid’s San Ildefonso school as they are drawn.

This institution holds historical significance as it once sheltered orphaned children, and past El Gordo lottery winners traditionally contributed a portion of their winnings to San Ildefonso. Although initially an all-boys school, the inclusion of girls in this tradition only commenced in 1984. Viewers, aside from tuning in to the draw on TV, often don lottery-themed hats and attire. Additionally, children in neighbourhoods might chant the numbers, adding to the festive atmosphere. According to online lottery news in the UK, despite the anticipation, the televised coverage of the draw has gained a reputation as “the most uneventful Christmas show on TV.”

Are Your Winnings Exempt From Taxes?

In the past, winnings from the El Gordo lottery were tax-free. However, in 2013, a financially strained Spanish government imposed a tax on lottery winnings for the first time. As of this year, any amount exceeding 40,000 euros will be subject to a 20% tax. For instance, if one wins a single décimo of the top prize, valued at 400,000 euros, €72,000 would be directed to Spain’s Hacienda tax authority, leaving the winner with €328,000.

Buy Your El Gordo Lottery Tickets Online

For those considering participation in the Spanish Christmas lottery, it’s advisable to purchase tickets from authorised vendors and safeguard them for potential claims in case of a win. When buying tickets collectively with friends or family, it’s prudent to pre-establish how any winnings will be distributed before the draw to prevent disputes later on. Here at Gamingzion.com, we recommend buying your ticket from one of the best online lottery sites in the UK, theLotter. Not only do they cover this Spanish Christmas lottery, but also thousands of other lotteries from all over the globe.