Yes, 22 December is here, and with it one of the most traditional moments of the Spanish Christmas season: the Christmas Gordo Lottery Draw. In this post, you will not see any links to lottery administrations or similar sites because at Buy from Spain we reject betting and gambling in its entirety.

The Spanish Christmas Lottery, held every December 22, sells tickets as full billetes split into 10 décimos (ten parts). Each 5‑digit number repeats across series, so the same number can pay multiple times. Prizes include El Gordo (1st), 2nd, 3rd, two 4th, several 5th prizes, plus thousands of small awards (la Pedrea), reintegros (refunds for last‑digit matches) and approximations.

Critics call it a scam because the expected value per ticket is typically negative, organizers and the state retain a large share, many “winners” get only tiny amounts, and headlines emphasize big prizes while omitting that most players buy décimos or shares that yield much smaller payouts.

In Madrid, Doña Manolita administration sells many prizes because it’s an historic lottery shop. Actually, they sell almost a third of all numbers, attracts nationwide and tourist buyers cues, and gains media attention that drives even more customers, so its large sales share makes wins there more likely, creating a reinforcing reputation. But mathematics and probability are what they are: A number bought at Doña Manolita has the same chances as a number bought in Seville.

Christmas tradition, social pressure, fractional ownership, taxes… and the spectacle of many small wins exploit cognitive biases on TV news each year this day, encouraging play despite poor long‑term returns. Treat el Gordo lottery as entertainment, not an investment.