If you haven’t heard about the El Gordo Lotto, then let us point out to you, how important this lotto is to the Spanish people.

This Spanish Christmas Lottery - El Gordo Lotto (The Fat One) is one of the world’s oldest lotteries. It began in the month of December in 1812 and has since become a national tradition.

Every year, millions of Spaniards participate in the lottery, with thousands winning prizes every year.

Why is the El Gordo Lotto so popular?

There are a couple of reasons why so many people join in the exciting El Gordo Lotto.

- Well, firstly there is the motivation of winning the biggest lottery ever! And we’re talking globally.

- Then there is the fact, that there are plenty of cash prizes up for the grabs.

- And the most important, the chances of winning the El Gordo Lotto are 1 in 6. So, the odds are absolutely great.

El Gordo maintains standards and procedures – Here’s how it works:

The El Gordo Lotto maintains the same standards and operation every year. The numbers are chosen over live TV and radio broadcasts. The results are read on the 22nd of December. On the 21st there is a public event where the two bowls (one for numbers and the other for the prizes) are examined and recounted. The bowls are also checked by assistants to ensure that everything is in order for the next day’s events.

On the 22nd the salon is opened at 8.00. The viewing is opened to any member of the public although, understandably, this number is limited to the holding capacity of the salon—the Lotería Nacional Hall. At 8.30, once the president authorizes it, the balls that are going to be used for the draw are shown to the public. Once this is done, the balls are then deposited back into the bowls.

The two bowls contain different balls. One of the bowls—a large circular container—is filled with thousands of small wooden balls. These balls represent all the ticket numbers bought by the public. The other bowl contains a smaller ratio of balls. These represent the prizes that will be won during the draw.

Traditionally, the results of the El Gordo lotto are sung out loud. Previously this used to be done by orphans whose parents were public servants, but now it is done by students of a school in Madrid. Students from the San Ildefonso School draw numbers from the bowl and sing the numbers out. The process is a refined series of event. One child picks a number and another selects the prize from random. The numbers of these are then sung out by another child. The entire time the results are steadily broadcasted by the many media houses which are present.

The El Gordo Lotto draw lasts for as long as four hours and only ends when all the balls (prizes) have been won. The President and auditor then authorize the results, thus ending the draw.

Global presence of the El Gordo Lotto

Until recently the Spanish lottery (El Gordo lotto) was only opened to its citizens. That has changed now. Tickets are now available online and anyone can partake in the famous, thrilling and much anticipated El Gordo Lotto.

El Gordo Lotto

Why the El Gordo Lotto is so popular