Some Huge ElGordo in Total Prizes include:
The name ElGordo means 'The Fat One'. The nickname came from the huge amount of prize money. As measured by the total prize payout, the Spanish Christmas Lottery is considered the biggest lottery worldwide.
ElGordo is drawn every year on December 22nd and is broadcast live on TV and online. The ElGordo lottery draw starts live at 9am - 09:00 (CET time).
Tickets are limited - 100,000 tickets are printed with codes between 00000-99999. Each ticket is printed in 50 copies and divided into 10 shares - players can purchase individual shares or an entire ticket.
The ElGordo draw takes place at the Teatro Real (Royal Theatre) located in Madrid, Spain.
On the stage at the front of the theatre are two spherical cages which hold the small wooden balls that will be drawn.
The larger of the two spheres is filled with 100,000 small wooden balls each with its own unique 5 digit number ranging from 00000 all the way up to 99999. The large sphere determines which ticket numbers will win prizes. The smaller of the two spheres is filled with 1807 balls each with an inscription of a prize amount.
Over the course of the drawing, two children from the San Ildefonso School draw each and every ball from the smaller sphere. It is drawn individually and matched to a number simultaneously drawn from the large sphere containing ticket numbers by two children from the San Ildefonso School. There are 40 children in total, each taking turns in pairs drawing the numbers.
As each winning number and corresponding prize amount are chosen, the children sing out the results, one sings the number, the other sings the prize.
When larger prizes are drawn, the theatre fills with applause for the children as they display the winning number and the winning amount across the stage.
ElGordo tickets are limited and consist of 100,000 five-digit codes ranging from 00000-99999. Each ticket is printed in 50 copies and divided into 10 shares - players can purchase individual shares or an entire ticket.
To win the massive First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth prizes, simply match your ticket number to the winning ticket number in that prize group. Additional numbers are drawn from the barrel in the ElGordo lottery for smaller prize winnings.
You can also win smaller prizes by partially matching one of the 5 winning ticket numbers.
For a full prize breakdown take a look at the Prize Breakdown table below.
| MATCH | WIN | ODDS OF WINNING | AVERAGE DIVIDEND IN 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Prize | €4,000,000.00 | 1 in 100,000 | €4,000,000.00 |
| Second Prize | €1,250,000.00 | 1 in 100,000 | €1,250,000.00 |
| Third Prize | €500,000.00 | 1 in 100,000 | €500,000.00 |
| Fourth Prize | €200,000.00 | 1 in 50,000 | €200,000.00 |
| Fifth Prize | €60,000.00 | 1 in 12,500 | €60,000.00 |
| Sixth Prize | €1,000.00 | 1 in 56 | €1,000.00 |
| Numbers before and after the first prize | €20,000.00 | 1 in 50,000 | €20,000.00 |
| Numbers before and after the second prize | €12,500.00 | 1 in 50,000 | €12,500.00 |
| Numbers before and after the third prize | €9,600.00 | 1 in 50,000 | €9,600.00 |
| First three digits of the first prize | €1,000.00 | 1 in 1,010 | €1,000.00 |
| First three digits of the second prize | €1,000.00 | 1 in 1,010 | €1,000.00 |
| First three digits of the third prize | €1,000.00 | 1 in 1,010 | €1,000.00 |
| First three digits of the fourth prize | €1,000.00 | 1 in 505 | €1,000.00 |
| Last two digits of the First prize | €1,000.00 | 1 in 100 | €1,000.00 |
| Last two digits of the Second prize | €1,000.00 | 1 in 100 | €1,000.00 |
| Last two digits of the Third prize | €1,000.00 | 1 in 100 | €1,000.00 |
| Last digit of the First prize | Fixed amount | 1 in 10 | €200.00 |
To play, purchase as many shares as you like in a ten-share ticket or you can purchase an entire ElGordo lottery ticket which is equivalent to 10 shares.
You can purchase as many games as you like, then all you have to do is wait for the results!
LottoHQ will check all your games and notify you of any winnings when the draw results have been announced.
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