- Title: SPAIN: Massive 2.5 billion euros up for grabs in El Gordo Christmas lottery
- Date: 23rd December 2011
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (DECEMBER 22, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIORS OF VENUE OF LOTTERY DRAW BANNER READING IN SPANISH: 'WELCOME TO THE 2011 CHRISTMAS LOTTERY DRAW' / PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE OUTSIDE LOTTERY DRAW VENUE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOTTERY HOPEFUL, NURIA, SAYING: "This is shared (ticket), about 70 euros (spent), not much more. In general it is shared." PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE OUTSIDE LOTTERY DRAW VENUE PEOPLE DRESSED UP AS HOUSES MOCK LOTTERY TICKET PASTED ON THE ROOF OF HOUSE COSTUME (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOTTERY HOPEFUL DRESSED IN A HOUSE COSTUME, CARLOS, SAYING: "We don't have a house, because banks don't give us a mortgage. Let's see if we get the first or second prize today, and we can buy a house." PEOPLE IN LINE TO GET INTO LOTTERY DRAW VENUE MAN HOLDING SIGN READING: "4 MILLION" AND WOMAN HOLDING SIGN WITH THE LOTTERY NUMBER BOUGHT VARIOUS OF WOMEN IN WITCH COSTUMES MADE WITH LOTTERY TICKETS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE TO GET INTO LOTTERY DRAW VENUE
- Embargoed: 7th January 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain, Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA9VYRV9OVFD9KCL34NWBXOXGP1
- Story Text: Excitement and anticipation has enveloped Spain as cash-strapped Spaniards collectively held their breath on Thursday (December 22), hoping their numbers would be called out in "El Gordo," or 'The Fat One'. The popular Christmas lottery, which boasts one of the biggest prize funds in the world, is distributing 2.5 billion euros this year.
The country virtually comes to stand still as the children of the San Ildefonso school sing out the winning numbers and prizes for "El Gordo." Those who do not attend the draw in person can follow it live on TV and on the radio.
This year alone the El Gordo Draw will pay out 2.5 billion euros to over 1,202,490 cash prize winners in Spain and around the world. The first prize is worth 4 million euros, the highest amount ever and up 33 percent from a year ago.
Outside the venue of the Christmas draw in Madrid, people - many in costumes - queued from the early morning to get a good seat.
"We don't have a house, because banks don't give us a mortgage. Let's see if we get the first or second prize today, and we can buy a house," said Carlos. who was dressed up as a house along with his friends.
On Thursday, 10-year-old Johan and 13-year-old Maria Jose of the San Ildefonso school, called out the winning number for the 4-million-euro top prize - 58,268 - which was sold in Huesca, a small town in Aragon with a population of 2000.
Johan and Maria Jose's families were excited to see them participating in a the El Gordo Christmas Lottery, a hugely popular event in Spain.
"She (Maria Jose) is now going to become famous," said Maria Jose's sister, Marjorie, after the top prize was called.
Although Spain is battered by the euro zone debt crisis and has the highest jobless rate in the European Union, 90 percent of adult Spaniards played in the Christmas lottery, pooling money with colleagues or friends and spending about 70 euros per person..
The numbers came in series of ten tickets. Each ticket, or 'decimo' (tenth) cost 20 euros, and the whole series of ten cost 200 euros. One ticket with the winning number would get the ticket holder a tenth of the prize for that specific winning number.
Whether the crisis-hit Spaniards have a lucky number or not, the 'Fat One' adds sparkle to the festive celebrations. As for the cash strapped government, it plans to sell a 30-percent stake in the lottery business - Spain's most lucrative public enterprise - next year as the country battles national debt problems. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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