On 22 December, Spain organised the country’s most famous lottery, called “El Gordo de Navidad” (Christmas Lottery). The lottery, organised by the Spanish National Organisation (ONCE), is one of the oldest and biggest in the world. The most exciting day in Spain: El Gordo Christmas on 22 december 2023.
Play the Lotería de Navidad, the world’s biggest lottery raffle on December 22nd 2023, and enjoy 1 in 100,000 chances of winning the jackpot prize!
El Gordo tickets are on sale now!!
You can buy El Gordo tickets for the 22 December 2023 draw as early as September. The tickets are even more advantageous now as you get a 30% discount. So buy them in time
Spanish tradition
Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year, and efinitely in Spain. In this beautiful country it has been the most popular lottery for many decades. It’s actually one of the greatest traditions in Spain. Millions of people love to play it with their family an friends. A lottery win would mean a great beginning of the year!
The “El Gordo” lottery is held annually on 22 December and is an important part of the Spanish Christmas tradition. The draw lasts several hours and is televised. “El Gordo” is known for its huge prize pool. The total prize pool is often in the billions of euros, and the jackpot, known as “El Gordo,” is one of the biggest in the world.
How do you play the El Gordo?
El Gordo has been organised since 1812 by the Spanish government, of which Lotería Nacional is part. The lottery tickets are drawn and the fallen numbers are called out singing by orphans from Colegio de San Ildefonso, Spain’s oldest school. At first, the numbers were printed on pieces of paper, until 1913, when the current system was switched to where the numbers are on balls taken from a large wooden drum.
The draw takes place on 22 December and starts at 8am. Around this time, members of the public are also allowed to enter the hall to watch the draw live. At 8.30am, the president of Spain and the official notary will also enter. Under the watchful eye of all present, the numbers are drawn by two orphan children. One child reads the number while singing, the other child reads which amount of money belongs to this number.
When is the draw of El Gordo
El Gordo draw 22 december 2023
Buy on time your ticket in 2023 becasue there is a limit for this lottery draw.
Every year, El Gordo takes place at December 22. The day before the number of bowls and prizes are being thoroughly counted and recounted. Some assistants also check the balls, so that everything is in order for the next day. The actual draw takes place in a saloon. In the days before the draw this place is tightly secured with interior latches. So almost no one has access to the saloon. It opens the next day at 8.00 and is filled with people. The draw is shown on national television and is a very exciting moment for millions of people. The balls are transported in a technical way by the so called ‘tolva’.
During the draw, the numbers of the balls are shown by a child from the St. Ildefonso’s School. Then, the bowls are closed again and turned over. Interestingly enough two children make clear which numbers are being drawn by signing them!
The balls are inserted in the wires, which are joined in a table. Eventually hundreds of balls of each type will be treated this way. The table is properly closed and under the watchful eye of the president and the auditor. ElGordo is over when there are no balls in the prize bowl left.
What means El Gordo?
ElGordo means ‘The Fat One’ in Spanish for a reason. It has the biggest number of prized tickets in the entire world, namely 15.304. So people can win more prizes than in any draw of the world! No surprise, if you realize that 70 percent of the total revenue is given to prizes. The lottery is in the hands of the Spanish government, which means that it’s organized in all of Spain. There is a very good organization behind El Gordo . For example, you’re ensured of an immediate pay when you’ve won.
Singing children
How many prizes will be awarded?
On December 22, the Extraordinary Christmas Giveaway will distribute a total of 2,408 million euros in prizes, exactly 28 million more than the previous year, so those who win the ‘Gordo’ will receive 400,000 euros until the tenth, with 640 million euros. euros to be divided with this main prize.
In total, the lottery will distribute 24.4 million prizes. For that day, 160 series of 100,000 tickets each were issued, with an issue of 3,200 million euros, 70 percent of which were prizes. The second prize is 1.25 million euros and the third 500,000 euros. In addition, there are two fourth prizes of 200,000 euros and eight fifths of 60,000 euros.
And what exactly is a tenth? And a stone?
The tenth is the name given to the tickets and represents the tenth part of a series. This is the number of times each of the accounts is repeated. The ticket is the numbers participating in the drawing and each consists of ten tenths. As for the prices, the ‘Gordo’ is the maximum price. On the other hand, the reimbursement is about those accounts whose last number coincides with that of the ‘Gordo’. The prize is equal to the amount played. As for the stones, it’s the set of small lottery prizes.
Where and when will I receive my El Gordo prize?
If the price is equal to or greater than 2,500 euros, it will be collected from one of the SELAE authorized financial entities. With regard to entries, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado has emphasized that, if you are the holder of a winning number entry, the lucky ones should contact the issuer of that entry to continue collecting prizes.
Is the award shared with the treasury?
The answer is yes. Prices of less than 20,000 euros are exempt from tax. Profits made with that amount are taxed at 20%.