Tomorrow, December 22nd, between 09h00 and 12h00, Spain’s Lotería Nacional (State Lottery) will hold the draw of the annual Lotería de Navidad (Christmas lottery). Spain’s newspapers will publish a second edition of the day with a complete listing of all winning numbers, from 13h00.

The national lottery game has been organized in Spain every year since 1812; it is said to be the biggest raffle of its kind worldwide. The total prize money amounts to 2,520,000,000 €, with El Gordo (the Big One, First Prize) receiving 4,000,000 €. There are 180 series of numbers; the Gordo will be paid out 180 times. There will be 1,250,000 € for the second prize (again 180 times), 500,000 € for the third (idem), 2 x 200,000 € for 4th prize and 8 x 60,000 € for 5th prize. There will be a total of 27,547,200 winning Décimos. Tickets sell at 200 € per number, divided into Décimos (1/10th tickets) at 20 € each.

A remarkable seventy percent of the money taken from the sale of tickets are destined for winning tickets. Twenty-two percent go to the Tesoro Público (the Spanish tax authorities) whilst the remainder goes to commissions and administration.

The lottery ticket with the number shown coincides with the numbers of the date of the recent wedding of the Duquesa de Alba on October 5th, 2011, a number much sought after in this year’s lottery.

The photo was borrowed from the Internet, courtesy of cadenaser.com.

Muchas gracias.