Game Info
- Biggest Jackpot: €2.5 billion
- Draw Days: Main event held annually on December 22nd
- Numbers to Pick: 1 to 54
- Win Odds: 1 in 10
- Jackpot Odds: 1 in 139 million
- Minimum Jackpot: €4 million
Spain has one of the richest lottery traditions in the world, dating back to 1812, but the highlight of every year hits during the Christmas season. That’s when the legendary El Gordo is held as the main event of the Christmas Lottery draw.
And guess what? Indian players can participate too! You can inquire about the event and its draws at the official El Gordo website, but if you want to get started right away, this guide will fill you in on the prices, draw times, prize amounts, and everything in between.
Latest El Gordo Results — Check Now
Want to see if you’re a winner?
☑️ The latest El Gordo results are available on the official website of the Spanish Lottery.
☑️ The latest draws you can watch live:
☑️ You can also check the results of other draws, such as the “Summer El Gordo” or “El Gordo de la Primitiva”. It is worth noting that the term “El Gordo” features in other lottery names but refers to the Christmas Lottery only when it stands on its own.
How to Play El Gordo
If you wish to play El Gordo India, the process is quite simple, especially considering that, out of all lottery games out there, the Spanish lottery is one of the few that allow international players to buy tickets on the official site.
We’ll gladly show you how to purchase the tickets, but there’s one important thing to note — the official El Gordo December draw tickets are still not available for sale. They usually hit the market in July, so for now, we’ll just describe how a ticket purchase would work:
- Find a trusted lottery vendor – You can purchase tickets via the official El Gordo website or reputable lottery agent.
- Get your ticket — You can purchase one or more tickets with five predetermined numbers on them.
- Complete the purchase — From there, you can just connect your preferred payment option to complete the purchase. You will then receive a confirmation email with your lucky numbers included.
- Sign up for ElGordo alerts — You can also subscribe to El Gordo alerts by visiting the official website and selecting the draw. If tickets are not available at that moment, the site will offer you an opportunity to receive an update once they are, so you can make a timely purchase.
You can also purchase tickets in rupees by checking out our top lottery sites in India. The average El Gordo ticket price is 20 euros, which is around ₹1,830. So, now that you know the stakes, you just need to check out our list of vendors and make your claim on the massive prize!
El Gordo Ticket Price
Before diving into El Gordo, you should be aware that it works slightly differently compared to other state lotteries. Namely, the ticket price of around ₹1,830 mentioned above refers to one “decimo”, or a tenth of the full ticket.
A full El Gordo ticket costs 200 euros, but you can get decimos for a tenth of the price. So theoretically, if you bought a full ticket for the price of ₹18,300, you would have a shot at winning the €4 million jackpot (around ₹365 million). But with a single decimo, you’d be eligible for a tenth of that prize, that is, a ₹36.5 million win.
| Ticket type | Euro price | INR price |
|---|---|---|
| El Gordo “decimo” | €20 | ₹1,830 |
| El Gordo full ticket | €200 | ₹18,300 |
Draw Schedule
You’ll need to wait until July to hit the El Gordo Play online button, and you can visit the official website of the Spanish Lottery to stay updated on the ticket release.
This game only features one draw every year, on December 22nd, and it takes place at 09:00 CET or 13:30 IST.
Winning Odds and Prize Categories
Winning the El Gordo Jackpot is only possible if you hit all five numbers. However, the El Gordo functions differently compared to other national lotteries, where each number you hit leads to a prize. This one is all about combinations, and players can finish first, second, third, and so on.
The position you end up with defines your payout. Also, note that the odds are determined by the number of prize draws. For instance, there’s just one first El Gordo prize, but there are more than 1,700 La Pedrea payouts. So, here’s a brief breakdown based on last year’s draw and results, considering that this year’s amounts and outcomes are subject to change:
| Result | Winning Odds | Estimated Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize (El Gordo Jackpot) | 1 in 139 million | €4 million |
| 2nd Prize | 1 in 100,000 | €1.25 million |
| 3rd Prize | 1 in 100,000 | €500,000 |
| 4th Prize | 1 in 50,000 | €200,000 |
| 5th Prize | 1 in 12,500 | €60,000 |
| La Pedrea (Small Wins) | 1 in 56 | €1,000 |
| For the two numbers just one unit above and below the First Prize | 1 in 50,000 | €20,000 |
| For the two numbers just one unit above and below the Second Prize | 1 in 50,000 | €12,500 |
| For the two numbers just one unit above and below the Third Prize | 1 in 50,000 | €9,600 |
| For all numbers with the same first three digits of the First Prize | 1 in 1,010 | €1,000 |
| For all numbers with the same first three digits of the Second Prize | 1 in 1,010 | €1,000 |
| For all numbers with the same first three digits of the Third Prize | 1 in 1,010 | €1,000 |
| For all numbers with the same first three digits of each of the Fourth Prizes | 1 in 505 | €1,000 |
| For all numbers with the same two last digits as the First Prize | 1 in 100 | €1,000 |
| For all numbers with the same two last digits as the Second Prize | 1 in 100 | €1,000 |
| For all numbers with the same two last digits as the Third Prize | 1 in 100 | €1,000 |
| For all numbers with the same last digit as the First Prize (Reintegro) | 1 in 10 | €200 |
Compare El Gordo with other games like Powerball or EuroMillions below:
| Lottery | Jackpot Winning Chance | Minimum Win Chance |
|---|---|---|
| El Gordo | 1 in 139 million | 1 in 10 |
| Powerball | 1 in 292.2 million | 1 in 24 |
| EuroMillions | 1 in 139 million | 1 in 22 |
| EuroJackpot | 1 in 140 million | 1 in 9 |
Tips to Increase Your Winning Chances
While there’s no universal rule for increasing your El Gordo winning chances, there are several tips you can try:
- Keep up with the latest results — Sometimes, checking the previous year’s El Gordo lottery results can shed some light on how the draw went or at least give you some interesting ideas on which numbers to pick.
- Pick a trustworthy vendor — If you plan on purchasing a ticket on an Indian site, you should also focus on selecting a reliable agent. You can check out our lottery agents’ reviews for inspiration for picking a platform with low fees and ticket prices that are as close as possible to those in Spain.
- Get your ticket on time — Every July, the craze for grabbing El Gordo tickets starts all over again. Make sure to get there early to claim yours.
El Gordo Jackpot History — Biggest Wins
El Gordo’s jackpots have changed lives for over 200 years! Here are some of the biggest wins:
| Year | Jackpot | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | €2.5 billion | Across Spain |
| 2015 | €2.2 billion | Madrid, Barcelona |
| 2021 | €2.4 billion | Valencia, Seville |
El Gordo is often played in decimos, while full tickets are usually purchased by a group of people. The most recent success story comes from the Logrono region in Spain, where a group of neighbours made it big by winning a €400,000 prize before taxes.
Claiming Winnings & Tax Considerations for Indian Players
In case you check the El Gordo results today and realise you’ve won a prize, you’ll need to know how to claim it. Here’s a useful guide on all the important aspects:
- You can buy your ticket via the online El Gordo vendor or the official site and check the status as the draw unfolds. To withdraw, log in to your account and check the rules. Some operators pay out immediately, while others may include security checks for larger sums.
- Depending on the agent, you might be offered an annuity payment. Instead of giving you a lump sum, this includes recurring monthly payments, often spanning over 30 or more years.
- To claim your winnings, you might need to pass an identity check and submit your personal details.
- If you win an El Gordo prize as an Indian player, you will still be required to pay taxes of 20% on winnings above €40,000. Lower amounts are not taxed.
- The currency conversion rate might vary on a day-to-day basis depending on the EUR-to-INR ratio.
El Gordo for Indian & International Players
Yes, Indian players can legally participate! You can buy your ElGordo online tickets via a number of vendors and agents. We’ve done everything on our part to bring you a safe and vetted bunch.
Through these agents, you’ll be able to purchase tickets the same way locals do. However, the ticket prices might be higher than the ones in Spain. Plus, you’d need to consider the conversion rate.
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Final Thoughts — Should You Play El Gordo?
Playing El Gordo is a unique way of participating in lotteries, as the big draw is only held once a year. It’s the main event of the world’s oldest lottery, so it’s definitely worth trying, especially considering the life-changing prize pools of over €2,5 billion.
Now that you know the payout odds, potential payouts on full tickets and decimos, and other details, you’ll be just one step away from the big prize. Cut the wait and get your El Gordo ticket today through one of our trusted agents!
