In Spain, the pre-Christmas rush is traditionally marked by the search for that coveted ticket to the year’s biggest lottery draw. For many, choosing a specific ticket number is a matter of principle: some look for a birth date, others a memorable anniversary, or simply an attractive combination. This year, interest in the Christmas Lottery draw (Lotería de Navidad) has only grown—tickets went on sale as early as summer, and the frenzy continues up until December.
In 2025, tickets can be purchased almost anywhere in the country, from major city kiosks to small provincial administrations. Official sales points and state lottery terminals started selling tickets back in July, coinciding with the start of the summer holiday season. This allowed many people to stock up in advance, but even now, just weeks before the draw, demand remains high.
Searching for the right number
Those hoping to find a specific number no longer need to visit dozens of lottery kiosks. Now, they can use special search services that let them enter the desired combination and receive a list of locations where it’s still available. This saves time and offers the chance to pick the most convenient place to buy.
In addition, there is a reverse search option: if you know the address or province where you’d like to buy a ticket, you can find out which numbers are still available for sale there. For buyers’ convenience, information can be downloaded in Excel format—especially useful for those purchasing tickets for a group or a large family.
Changes to the rules
This year, organizers increased the number of series to 198—five more than last season. The total prize pool for 2025 has reached €3.96 billion, with €2.77 billion allocated for prizes. The price of a single ticket remains €20, though sellers continue to push for a price increase to €25 due to inflation.
Among the updates are a wider range of numbers and an increase in the number of sales points. This has made the purchase process more accessible, but also more challenging for those hunting for a specific combination. However, modern search tools allow buyers to quickly navigate even this wide selection.
Prize Fund Structure
The top prize, known as El Gordo, is €4 million per series, equivalent to €20,000 for every euro spent. The second prize is €1.25 million per series, and the third is €500,000. There are also two fourth prizes of €200,000 each and eight fifth prizes of €60,000 each. In addition to these major winnings, thousands of smaller prizes are awarded: from ‘pedreas’ (€1,000 for a five-digit match) to numerous consolation payouts for matches on the last digits or hundreds.
The total number of prizes is impressive: ‘pedreas’ alone account for 1,794 winnings, and the number of ‘reintegros’ (prizes for matching the last digit) reaches nearly 10,000. This scale makes the Christmas Lottery draw a unique event involving the whole country.
Expenses and Traditions
In 2024, the average lottery ticket spending in Spain amounted to €73.84 per person. This is noticeably higher than the previous year, when the average was €71.67. The growing interest in the lottery is explained not only by the size of the prize pool, but also by the special festive atmosphere that accompanies the draw.
For many Spaniards, taking part in the Christmas Lottery draw isn’t just a chance to strike it rich, but a part of family tradition. People buy tickets together, exchange numbers, and discuss possible combinations. In the last weeks before the draw, people of all ages can be seen waiting in line at kiosks, and conversations about ticket numbers and winning odds become the main topic of discussion.
