SHOTLIST:

MADRID, SPAIN (DEC. 19, 2025) (ANADOLU-ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUEING OUTSIDE THE DONA MANOLITA LOTTERY SHOP

2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PURCHASING LOTTERY TICKETS

3. CARLOS, ONE OF PEOPLE AT LOTTERY SHOP, SPEAKING TO CAMERA (Spanish)

4. SILVIA, ONE OF PEOPLE AT LOTTERY SHOP, SPEAKING TO CAMERA (Spanish)

5. MANUEL PERDIGUERO SUAREZ, OPERATOR OF THE NO. 410 LOTTERY SHOP ‘EL ORO DE RAYO’, SPEAKING TO CAMERA (Spanish) MADRID, SPAIN - DEC. 19, 2025 - Spain’s historic Christmas lottery, a tradition dating back to 1812, is drawing record public interest this year with a total prize pool of 2.59 billion euros ($2.7 billion), one of the largest in the world.

According to Spain’s State Lottery and Betting Agency (LAE), Spaniards spent an average of 76 euros on tickets this year, a 3-euro increase over 2024. The top prize for the Dec. 22 draw, known as "El Gordo" (The Fat One), is 4 million euros, though thousands of smaller prizes are also available.

The lottery is designed to be shared. Unlike most international games, each 20-euro ticket, or decimo, pays out only one-tenth of the prize. This structure encourages winnings to be split among large groups of families, friends, or coworkers. A total of 100,000 five-digit numbers are sold, with each issued in multiple series.

The historic draw, set to take place Sunday, will follow a centuries-old tradition at a Madrid theater. Students from the San Ildefonso boarding school will sing out the winning numbers and corresponding prizes during a ceremony that typically lasts more than four hours.

In downtown Madrid, the Dona Manolita lottery shop — widely considered Spain’s luckiest outlet — sells approximately 3 million tickets each year. In the days leading up to the draw, buyers are frequently seen queuing for hours to purchase tickets from the famous location.