The most common questions about the Spanish lotteries, answered in plain English. Click a question to see the answer, or jump straight to a topic.
The Basics
Who runs the Spanish lotteries?
Two national organisations. SELAE (Loterías y Apuestas del Estado) is state-owned and runs El Gordo, El Niño, the Lotería Nacional, La Primitiva, BonoLoto, El Gordo de la Primitiva and EuroMillions in Spain. ONCE, the national organisation for blind people, runs its own games and Eurojackpot. More in our ONCE guide.
What is the difference between a lotto and a ticket lottery?
In a lotto (La Primitiva, BonoLoto, EuroMillions) you choose your own numbers. In a ticket lottery (El Gordo, El Niño, Lotería Nacional) you buy a ticket with a pre-printed five-digit number.
What is a décimo?
One tenth of a full lottery ticket (billete). It’s the standard way to play El Gordo, El Niño and the Lotería Nacional. Each décimo wins one tenth of the prize for its number.
Which Spanish lottery has the best odds?
Per ticket, the ticket lotteries: El Gordo, El Niño and the Lotería Nacional give each décimo a 1 in 100,000 chance of the first prize. La Primitiva and BonoLoto are 1 in 13,983,816 for six numbers. See the full comparison table.
Is there a draw every day?
Yes. BonoLoto is drawn every day of the week, and on most days there are other draws as well. See the draw times per lottery.
El Gordo & El Niño
When is El Gordo 2026?
Tuesday 22 December 2026, from around 09:00 Madrid time. Everything about the draw is in our El Gordo guide.
How much can you win with El Gordo?
The first prize pays €400,000 per €20 décimo (€4 million per series). There are thousands of smaller prizes too, and 1 in 10 décimos gets its money back.
What is the difference between El Gordo and El Niño?
El Gordo (22 December) has the bigger top prize, €400,000 per décimo. El Niño (6 January) pays €200,000, but around 3 in 10 décimos get at least their stake back.
Is El Gordo de la Primitiva the same as El Gordo?
No. El Gordo de la Primitiva is a weekly Sunday lotto where you choose your own numbers. The Christmas El Gordo is drawn once a year with pre-printed tickets.
Playing from Abroad
Can foreigners play the Spanish lottery?
Yes. Anyone aged 18 or over can play and win, regardless of nationality or residence.
How can I play the Spanish lottery online from outside Spain?
Through a messenger service, which buys an official ticket in Spain for you, or a lottery betting site, which lets you bet on the official draw. We explain the difference in our guide to playing online.
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Is it legal to play the Spanish lottery online from my country?
That depends on your country. Some countries allow online lottery services, others restrict or ban them. Always check your local rules before you play.
Why do online services charge more than €20 for an El Gordo décimo?
A messenger service buys the real décimo in Spain, stores it, sends you a scan and collects prizes for you. Its fee is included in the price.
Prizes & Tax
Do you pay tax on Spanish lottery prizes?
Prizes up to €40,000 are tax-free. On the amount above €40,000, 20% is withheld at source. See our lottery tax guide for worked examples.
Do non-residents pay the same tax?
Yes, the same 20% above €40,000. Your home country may tax the prize too.
What is the reintegro?
A refund of your stake. In El Gordo and the Lotería Nacional, you get it back if your décimo has the same last digit as the first prize. In La Primitiva and BonoLoto, it’s a separate digit printed on your ticket.
Results & Claiming
Where can I check the results?
On our Spanish lottery results page, with the draw times of every game. Always verify with the official operator before you claim.
How long do I have to claim a prize?
For SELAE games: three months from the day after the draw. Unclaimed prizes go to the Spanish Treasury.
Where do I collect a prize?
Small prizes at any official lottery shop; larger prizes through the operator’s partner banks. If you played online, the service collects and pays the prize for you.
Can’t find your question? Every lottery has its own guide with a detailed FAQ. Start from the homepage or read about us. Please play responsibly (18+).