A popular La Primitiva lottery draw held this Monday, December 1, brought luck to a resident of the capital. The holder of the winning ticket, purchased in Madrid, matched the second-tier combination and secured a prize of €132,000. This news sparked renewed interest in the lottery, as the jackpot remains unclaimed.
Since no participant managed to guess the winning combination in full, the jackpot will continue to grow. It is expected to surpass an impressive €50 million for the next draw. The winning numbers this time were 02, 16, 28, 38, 41, and 47. The Complementario number was 08, and the Reintegro number was 06. The Joker number, which could have awarded a separate €1 million prize, was 5 428 533.
Rules and participation
La Primitiva remains one of Spain’s most popular lottery games, attracting thousands of participants every week. Draws are held regularly on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, giving players plenty of chances to test their luck. The game’s mechanics are simple: participants choose six unique numbers between 1 and 49.
The lottery’s prize system is multi-tiered. Prizes are awarded for matching three or more numbers. To win the main prize, known as the “Special Category” (Categoría Especial), not only must all six main numbers match, but also the Reintegro number, which is automatically assigned to each ticket. This number also gives players a chance to recoup the ticket cost if it matches the drawn Reintegro number.
Historical Roots
The history of La Primitiva stretches far into the past, making it one of the oldest lotteries in the world. The first draw took place back in the 18th century, specifically on December 10, 1763, during the reign of King Carlos III. The lottery was introduced by the Marquis de Esquilache, then Minister of Finance, who proposed it as a way to raise state funds without introducing new taxes for the population.
Throughout its long history, the lottery has undergone changes and even temporary suspensions. The format familiar to modern Spaniards was revived and officially established in 1985. Since then, La Primitiva has firmly secured its place among Spain’s leading national lotteries, becoming an integral part of the country’s culture.
Additional Chance: The Joker
For those looking for extra excitement and more chances to win, La Primitiva offers the optional ‘El Joker’ game. For just one additional euro, players can activate this option. Once activated, the ticket is assigned a random seven-digit number. If this number matches the winning ‘Joker’ combination exactly, the player is guaranteed a prize of one million euros—regardless of the results of the main La Primitiva draw.
Incidentally, all state lotteries in Spain, including La Primitiva, are organized by Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (SELAE). This government-owned company not only holds the draws but also allocates a significant portion of its proceeds to the national treasury. These funds are then used to support various social, cultural, and sports projects. SELAE is world-famous, above all, for its spectacular Christmas lottery “El Gordo,” which is one of the largest and oldest prize draws in the world.
