The morning on Barquillo street, right in the heart of Madrid, began as usual: leisurely coffee, familiar faces, a hint of bustle. But in just 21 minutes, the ordinary pace gave way to a true celebration. At lottery office number 16, located at 10 Barquillo, joyful shouts rang out — here, ticket number 70046, which won the second prize in the famous Christmas lottery, had been sold. The jackpot is impressive: each ticket wins €125,000, and after taxes, €108,000 remains. For one of the employees, this day was not only lucky, but also symbolic: she is retiring, and such a stroke of fortune became a fitting finale to her professional life.
Rael, who has worked here for many years, couldn’t hide her emotions. Smiling and hugging her colleagues, she admitted she couldn’t have wished for a better end to her career. Next to her, the shop’s owner, Lucía Peña, was busy estimating how many tickets had been sold this time. According to her, between 600 and 800 tickets had been distributed, amounting to around €1.2 million. A significant portion of sales took place online, so now the staff has to handle the process of awarding online winnings. This also explains why the street is so quiet — most winners bought their tickets from home, so the usual hustle and celebration never made it outside.
Changing of the era
Lucía notes that times are changing. In the past, customers would line up in person to get their coveted ticket, but now more and more people prefer to do it online. She smiles as she says that a number with a lot of zeros is usually unpopular, but this time it turned out to be lucky. The establishment’s manager, Nacho Hormaechea, adds that the prize was divided among the neighborhood residents and several local businesses. He admits that he still hasn’t realized the scale of what happened—it all happened so fast.
The lottery office on Barquillo is one of the oldest in Madrid. Its owners proudly say that entire families come here: grandchildren bring their grandparents’ subscriptions, and loyal customers pass on the tradition of playing the lottery from generation to generation. The establishment is located opposite the Ministry of Culture, and over the years, a special circle of regular customers has formed here.
Geography of luck
This year, luck was not limited to Madrid alone. The lottery’s second prize also went to other cities. For example, employees of the well-known textile company Bimba y Lola from Vigo were among the lucky winners. Although the bulk of ticket 70048 was sold in the capital, some tickets were purchased online, and now the company’s staff are awaiting confirmation of their winnings. Local media report that the exact number of winning tickets among the employees is still unknown.
Overall, the atmosphere at the administration office on Barquillo was special that day. Although there weren’t large crowds, excitement and joy could be felt in every corner. For many, this win was more than just a cash prize—it was a memorable event that would last a lifetime. The farewell scene was especially touching: colleagues congratulated Rael on her retirement, and she, openly shedding tears, thanked everyone for the years they had worked together and for this unexpected gift of fate.
New Traditions
The shift to online sales is changing not only how tickets are bought, but the very spirit of the celebration. Where winners once gathered to celebrate their luck together, many now learn about their winnings at home, with family, or even at work. Yet the Christmas lottery remains one of Spain’s most beloved traditions, bringing together people of all ages and professions.
This time, the story on Barquillo became an example of how old traditions can blend with new technologies, and how a chance ticket purchase can change someone’s life. For some, it’s just luck; for others, it’s a symbolic ending to a long journey. But for everyone involved, this day will remain unforgettable.
