El Gordo first launched in Spain in 1993 where it is locally known as Gordo de la Primitiva. It quickly became a hit with locals when they discovered just how much they could win in any El Gordo draw.

Absolutely not. While it might have started that way, things are certainly different today. When you play El Gordo online you instantly have the world at your fingertips and millions in the palm of your hand. At Lotto247, we make it possible for you to play El Gordo from anywhere in the world.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 – literally.

1. Pick 5 numbers from a possible 54.
2. Pick 1 number from a possible 9.
3. Finally, confirm your selection of by purchasing your entry

Just like that, you’re instantly in the running!

Winning El Gordo, resets its jackpot to a minimum starting jackpot of 5 million Euros and if not won, the jackpot for this national lottery can roll over and climb up to €30 million.

While El Gordo is a must for any lotto enthusiast, it certainly shouldn’t be confused with the annual raffle with a very similar name; El Gordo de Navidad.

If this name sounds familiar and you’re associating it with memories of Christmas then you’ve probably seen it mentioned in emails from Lotto247, advertising online or on the news. It’s just THAT popular.

The Spanish Christmas lottery is one of the oldest and most played raffles in lotto history as it dates back to 1812. The first Spanish Sorteo de Navidad was held on December 18, 1812 and the funds were used to fund Spanish troops during the Napoleon Wars.

1. It is a subtle but powerful way to honour the origins and heritage of the raffle itself
2. This Christmas raffle boasts a grand prize of €2.4 billion making it the biggest lottery in the world
3. Over the first 11 months of the year, players have the chance to save for tickets, map out their playing strategy and gather people to play in syndicates

El Gordo ticket sales for the Christmas raffle go live anywhere between June and September so it’s crucial to check all emails you receive from Lotto247.

When entering, you can opt to purchase Billetes which is a full ticket or Decimos which are a tenth of a billete.

In the wonderful world of lotteries, this game showcases some truly excellent figures with the odds of winning the top prize sitting at 1 in 100,000!

1. Are taxes free?
   Spanish lottery law states that winnings a prize over €2,500 are subject to a 20% tax.
2. How does the ticketing system work?
   Only 100,000 unique ticket numbers are produced so a pre-printed ticket will be printed multiple times and these are called series. This system ensures that more than 100,000 tickets can be sold each year and it increases the chance of multiple people being able to win and walk away with a special Christmas prize.
3. Is the draw as special as the prizes money?
   Yes it is! The winning numbers are sung by orphans from San Ildefonso School to really create that festive feeling.