Madrid is preparing to host the annual Spanish Christmas Lottery, known locally as “El gordo” – the largest single lottery prize in the world [[1]].The lottery, a deeply ingrained cultural tradition dating back to 1812, accounts for approximately 25% of all lottery sales in Spain throughout the year [[2]]. With a prize pool of nearly 3.96 billion euros,preparations are now underway at the Teatro Real to ensure a seamless draw on December 22nd.
Preparations are underway for the annual Spanish Christmas Lottery, with the iconic lottery drums arriving at the Teatro Real in Madrid earlier this morning. The arrival signals the final stages of preparation for the highly anticipated draw, a national tradition that generates significant economic activity.
The larger of the two drums, measuring 1.58 meters in diameter, has been positioned on stage to hold the 100,000 numbered balls used in the lottery. Constructed 19 years ago from a brass and bronze alloy, the large drum stands 2.64 meters tall, is 2.11 meters wide, and weighs approximately 850 kilograms.
Alongside it sits the smaller drum, used to dispense the prizes, built from the same materials but with reduced dimensions – 1.60 meters high and 1.28 meters wide, with a sphere diameter of 0.74 meters and a weight of around 450 kilograms.
A total of 100,000 numbered balls and 1,807 prize balls, including those for “El Gordo” – the top prize – have also been delivered to the Teatro Real. “El Gordo” awards 4 million euros per series.
Each ball is crafted from boxwood, with numbers laser-engraved to ensure precision. All balls weigh exactly 3 grams and measure 18 millimeters in diameter.
Security measures have been implemented, with all lottery elements being stored 16 meters below the stage under 24-hour surveillance until the early hours of December 21st, when they will be brought onstage for final preparations.
This year’s Christmas Lottery prize pool totals 3.960 billion euros, with 70% – or 2.772 billion euros – allocated to prizes. The lottery is a significant event in the Spanish calendar, often marking the start of the Christmas festivities.
Key prizes include “El Gordo” at 4,000,000 euros per series, the second prize at 1,250,000 euros per series, and the third prize at 500,000 euros per series.
