Villamanín, a small town in the province of León, suddenly found itself in the national spotlight. Here, among snow-covered streets and the usual calm, residents first rejoiced: their number had won the top prize in the Christmas lottery—the famous Gordo. But joy quickly gave way to anxiety. Instead of celebration came growing uncertainty and questions that remain unanswered.
It all began when the local festival committee decided to distribute lottery tickets among locals and visitors. The scheme seemed simple: for five euros, everyone got a ticket, with four euros going toward the lottery and one toward supporting town events. Thanks to this, dozens of people—including visitors—gained a shot at a major win.
Doubts and Suspicions
But by that evening, people in town began to notice oddities. Someone pointed out that some tickets might not have been properly registered. This meant their holders risked missing out on the winnings. Social media was awash with posts about possible fraud, and conversations in the streets were increasingly filled with talk of ‘deceit’ and ‘mistake.’
According to official data, the lottery administration handed over €1,620 to the commission in the form of 81 tenths of tickets. These tickets were divided into 15 blocks and distributed across various locations in the city: bars, shops, restaurants. Each ticket could have brought its holder around €80,000. But when it was time to check the numbers, it turned out things were not so simple. Some claimed that part of the tickets had been returned, while others said more tickets had been sold than the organizers actually had in hand.
Millions Missing
The situation became more complicated when the commission handed the blocks of tickets over to the bank and the lottery administration. At that point, a new set of tickets was discovered that was not linked to the winning number. As a result, a discrepancy of four million euros emerged—no one could explain where the money had gone or who was supposed to receive it.
In response to growing tensions, the festival organizing committee issued a statement to residents. Everyone was invited to a meeting at the town hall to hear a detailed explanation of the prize verification and claim process. The organizers promised to clarify how the issues would be resolved and asked everyone to bring their tickets for registration.
Possible Solutions
The meeting is set to discuss a proposal: reduce the winnings by 6% for each participant. This should compensate for the missing funds due to tickets sold in excess of the available amount. For each ticket, this means a loss of about 5,000 euros. The decision will be made by vote—the more tickets you hold, the more votes you have. Some residents are ready to support the commission, while others are already considering lawsuits.
The debate continues on social media. People demand clarity: when and where they can collect their money, who is responsible for the errors, and how to prevent similar situations in the future. Some call for solidarity, others for honesty and transparency. Many express sympathy for the young organizers caught at the center of the scandal.
City in suspense
Villamayor is holding its breath for a resolution. For many locals, this is more than just money—it’s a chance to change their lives. But for now, instead of joy, there is only anxiety and argument. There are more questions than answers, and everyone hopes that justice will prevail and the winnings will eventually reach their rightful owners.
