ONCE is Spain’s second national lottery organisation, and one of the most remarkable lotteries in the world. It is run by the Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles, Spain’s national organisation for blind people, founded in 1938. Its lottery profits fund jobs, education and social services for blind and disabled people across Spain. Many of its coupons are sold by people with disabilities from kiosks on Spanish streets.
ONCE vs. SELAE: Spain’s Two Lottery Operators
| ONCE | SELAE | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Social organisation for blind and disabled people | State-owned company |
| Where the profit goes | Services and jobs for people with disabilities | Spanish Treasury |
| Best-known games | Cupón Diario, Cuponazo, Sueldazo, Eurojackpot | El Gordo, Primitiva, BonoLoto, EuroMillions |
| Where to buy | ONCE kiosks and sellers, juegosonce.es | Lottery shops, loteriasyapuestas.es |
The Main ONCE Games
| Game | Draws | How it works | Top prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cupón Diario | Mon – Thu | 5-digit number + series, €2 | €500,000 |
| Cuponazo | Friday | 5-digit number + series | €6,000,000 |
| Sueldazo (weekend) | Sat · Sun | 5-digit number + series | €300,000 + €5,000 a month for 20 years |
| Super Once | Several draws a day | Pick 5 to 11 numbers, from €1 | €1,000,000 |
| Triplex | Several draws a day | Pick a 3-digit number | Small, fixed prizes |
| Eurojackpot | Tue · Fri | 5 from 50 + 2 from 12, €2 | €10M – €120M jackpot |
| Rasca (scratch cards) | Instant | Scratch and win | Up to €1,000,000 |
Prize information should be checked against the current rules on juegosonce.es .
How the ONCE Coupon Works
The classic ONCE games (Cupón Diario, Cuponazo and Sueldazo) work in a similar way to the Lotería Nacional : your coupon carries a five-digit number plus a series number. To win the top prize you need all five digits and the series. Matching the five digits in another series also pays a large prize.
What makes the ONCE coupon different: both the first and the last digits can win. Match the last one, two, three or four digits, or the first digits of the winning number, and you win a smaller prize. Prizes on one coupon can’t be combined; you receive the highest.
The Sueldazo (“big salary”) is popular because the top prize includes a monthly income: €5,000 a month for 20 years on top of a cash prize.
Tax on ONCE Prizes
ONCE prizes fall under the same Spanish rule as all official lotteries: tax-free up to €40,000 and 20% withheld on the amount above. A Cuponazo top prize of €6 million therefore pays out €4,808,000. Details in our lottery tax in Spain guide .
Can You Play ONCE from Abroad?
ONCE sells its games in Spain, at kiosks, through authorised sellers and on its official website for players with a Spanish account. International lottery services mainly offer the SELAE games and Eurojackpot. If you live outside Spain, the most accessible Spanish options are El Gordo , La Primitiva and Eurojackpot . See our information about playing online .
Why ONCE Matters
ONCE is often described as a unique model in Europe: a lottery that employs tens of thousands of people, many of them with disabilities, and funds its own social services. The famous green-and-white kiosks and the coupon sellers are a familiar sight in every Spanish town. Buying an ONCE coupon is, for many Spaniards, as much about supporting that work as about winning.
ONCE Lottery FAQ
What does ONCE stand for?
Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles: the National Organisation of Spanish Blind People, founded in 1938.
What is the biggest ONCE prize?
Eurojackpot, with jackpots of up to €120 million. Among ONCE’s own games, the Friday Cuponazo has the highest top prize: €6 million.
When are the ONCE results published?
The Cupón Diario is drawn Monday to Thursday in the evening, the Cuponazo on Friday and the Sueldazo on Saturday and Sunday. Results appear on juegosonce.es shortly after each draw. See also our results page .
Is ONCE the same as the Spanish state lottery?
No. The state lottery is SELAE (El Gordo, Primitiva, BonoLoto). ONCE is a separate social organisation with its own games.