El Niño is Spain’s second major Christmas-season lottery, drawn every year on 6 January, the Epiphany holiday. It uses the same €20 décimos and five-digit numbers as El Gordo, but distributes its prize money differently. The first prize for 2027 is €200,000 per décimo, and the draw offers more opportunities to win smaller prizes or recover your ticket cost.
El Niño is a popular Spanish tradition following the Christmas Lottery on 22 December. Below you can find the official 2027 prize structure, ticket prices, winning odds and information about checking and claiming prizes.
- Décimo
- €20
- Top prize
- €200,000
- Reintegro odds
- ≈1 in 3
El Niño 2027 at a Glance
| Official name | Sorteo Extraordinario del Niño |
| Draw date | Wednesday 6 January 2027, expected around midday (Madrid time) |
| Organiser | SELAE (Loterías y Apuestas del Estado) |
| Numbers | 00000 to 99999 |
| Price | €20 per décimo · €200 for a full ticket |
| Top prize | €2,000,000 per series · €200,000 per décimo |
| Number of series | 55 series in 2027 |
| Prize fund | €770 million in 2027 · 70% of the total ticket issuance |
| First-prize odds | 1 in 100,000 per décimo |
Information based on the official SELAE prize programme for 6 January 2027. The exact starting time should be confirmed with the organiser closer to the draw.
How El Niño Differs from El Gordo
Both lotteries are operated by SELAE, use five-digit numbers and cost €20 per décimo. However, the way prizes are awarded is different:
- Different draw format. El Niño uses a multiple-drum system with three main prizes and additional draws for the final four, three and two digits. El Gordo is famous for the San Ildefonso pupils singing the drawn numbers and prizes.
- More reintegro opportunities. El Niño awards refunds for the final digit of the first-prize number and two additional single-digit draws. SELAE describes the approximate chance of a reintegro as 1 in 3, compared with 1 in 10 for El Gordo.
- More smaller prizes. The 2027 prize programme includes thousands of awards worth €40, €100 and €350 per décimo through the additional digit draws.
Which has better odds? Both lotteries offer a 1 in 100,000 chance of matching the first-prize number. However, El Niño has more prize awards per series, increasing the chance of receiving some kind of prize.
In short: El Gordo offers the larger first prize, while El Niño has more opportunities for smaller wins or ticket refunds. Neither lottery guarantees a profit. Compare the games in our Spanish lottery comparison table.
El Niño 2027 Prize Table
The official SELAE programme confirms the following prizes for 6 January 2027. Each full ticket is divided into ten décimos, so the amount paid for one décimo is one tenth of the prize per full ticket.
| Prize | Number of awards | Per full ticket | Per décimo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st prize | 1 | €2,000,000 | €200,000 |
| 2nd prize | 1 | €750,000 | €75,000 |
| 3rd prize | 1 | €250,000 | €25,000 |
| Last 4 digits drawn | 20 | €3,500 | €350 |
| Last 3 digits drawn | 1,400 | €1,000 | €100 |
| Last 2 digits drawn | 5,000 | €400 | €40 |
| Number before / after 1st prize | 2 | €10,000 | €1,000 |
| Number before / after 2nd prize | 2 | €5,000 | €500 |
| Number before / after 3rd prize | 2 | €3,100 | €310 |
| Same hundred-number group as a main prize | 297 | €1,000 | €100 |
| Same last 3 digits as 1st or 2nd prize | 198 | €1,000 | €100 |
| Same last 2 digits as 1st prize | 999 | €1,000 | €100 |
| Reintegro: 3 digit-based awards | 29,999 | €200 | €20 (money back) |
All amounts are before tax. Award counts are per series and may overlap for individual ticket numbers. The programme allocates 37,922 prize awards per series. Always verify your complete ticket against the official results after the draw.
Source: Official SELAE El Niño 2027 prize programme (PDF).
What Are the Odds of Winning El Niño?
Because there are 100,000 possible five-digit numbers, each décimo has a 1 in 100,000 chance of matching the first-prize number.
However, the chance of receiving another prize is considerably higher. El Niño has multiple smaller-prize categories and three reintegro award mechanisms. According to SELAE, the approximate reintegro probability is 1 in 3.
Keep in mind that recovering your €20 ticket price is not the same as making a profit. Buying more décimos increases the total amount spent, and all numbers have equal first-prize odds.
Tax on El Niño Prizes
El Niño is an official Spanish lottery operated by SELAE. Under the applicable special Spanish lottery tax rules, the first €40,000 of a qualifying prize is exempt, while 20% is withheld from the amount exceeding €40,000.
The following examples show the Spanish withholding tax for the three main El Niño 2027 prizes, assuming one winning décimo held by one person.
| Prize per décimo | Spanish tax | You receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1st prize – €200,000 | €32,000 | €168,000 |
| 2nd prize – €75,000 | €7,000 | €68,000 |
| 3rd prize – €25,000 | €0 | €25,000 |
The same Spanish withholding rules generally apply to residents and non-residents, but international winners should also check their home country’s tax obligations. Shared tickets require correct identification of each prize owner, and the exemption is allocated proportionally.
Read our complete guide to lottery tax in Spain for more examples and explanations.
How to Play El Niño from Abroad
El Niño décimos can be purchased through authorised lottery retailers in Spain. Depending on where you live, some third-party online services may offer access through two different models:
- Messenger services: purchase a real Spanish lottery ticket on your behalf. You should check proof of ownership, fees and how any winnings are claimed.
- Lottery betting: allows you to bet on the outcome of the official draw without owning an actual El Niño ticket. The betting operator is responsible for payouts under its own terms.
These services are not equivalent, and availability depends on the laws of your country and the provider’s restrictions. Read our guide to playing Spanish lotteries online before participating.
In Spain, some people traditionally use small winnings from the El Gordo Christmas draw to purchase an El Niño décimo in January. Participation should remain a form of entertainment rather than a way to recover previous losses.
El Niño 2027: Online Ticket Information
Official décimos · Ticket ownership · Online services
Understand how El Niño tickets work and what to check before using an online lottery service.
Read the online play guide18+ · Independent information · Some links on this website may be affiliate links · Online lottery participation may be restricted or prohibited where you live. Play responsibly.
Claiming an El Niño Prize
If your El Niño décimo wins, check the official prize list published by SELAE and keep your ticket safe. For physical tickets, prizes below €2,000 can generally be collected at an authorised lottery retailer, while prizes of €2,000 or more must be claimed through an authorised SELAE partner bank with the required identification.
For SELAE prizes, you generally have three months from the day after the draw to claim your winnings. If you participated through a third-party service, check its specific prize-claim procedure and whether you own an official ticket or have placed a separate bet.
After the draw, check our Spanish lottery results guide for links to official winning numbers and ticket-checking information.
El Niño Lottery FAQ
When is the El Niño 2027 draw?
The El Niño 2027 draw takes place on Wednesday 6 January 2027, Epiphany (Día de Reyes) in Spain. It is expected around midday Madrid time. Check SELAE for the confirmed starting time.
Is El Niño better than El Gordo?
It depends on which prize you are comparing. El Gordo pays €400,000 for a first-prize décimo, compared with €200,000 for El Niño. Both have first-prize odds of 1 in 100,000, but El Niño offers more opportunities for smaller prizes and ticket refunds.
Why is it called “El Niño”?
“El Niño” means “the Child” and its name is commonly associated with the Christ child and the Epiphany celebrations. The lottery developed into a major Spanish tradition during the twentieth century and is often described as the little brother of El Gordo.
What are the odds of winning the El Niño first prize?
Each décimo has a 1 in 100,000 chance of matching the first-prize number. The chance of receiving a reintegro is considerably higher, at approximately 1 in 3 according to SELAE.
Can I play El Niño if I don’t live in Spain?
Foreign nationals can own eligible Spanish lottery tickets, but participation from abroad depends on local laws, the service involved and the applicable ticket ownership requirements. Always check these conditions before using an online service.
How long do I have to claim an El Niño prize?
SELAE prizes generally expire three months after the draw, with the period counted from the following day. Keep your original ticket safe and check the operator’s rules for large prizes and identification requirements.
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