- Title: SPAIN: Spain's "El Gordo" Christmas lottery brings country to standstill
- Date: 23rd December 2008
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (DECEMBER 22, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OUTSIDE LOTTERY SHOP READING: (Italian) "THE FAT ONE WAS SOLD HERE" AVELINO RUEDA, MANAGER OF LOTTERY KIOSK THAT SOLD PART OF THE WINNING SERIES OPENING BOTTLE OF CAVA MEDIA RUEDA HAVING A DRINK FROM THE BOTTLE RUEDA TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AVELINO RUEDA, MANAGER OF LOTTERY KIOSK THAT SOLD PART OF THE WINNING SERIES, SAYING: "All we sell is practically separate tickets. We don't have big companies requests or anything like that. It is a working class neighbourhood and we sell separate tickets. So yes, it has been shared by a lot of people." RUEDA SPRAYING CAVA
- Embargoed: 7th January 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA5FGZZ7VJ3FVUKECOSV2Y849ET
- Story Text: Spain's three-million euro Christmas lottery prize is shared by people in five Spanish cities.
People from five cities in Spain shared Spain's "El Gordo," the world's biggest lottery, on Monday (December 22).
El Gordo, Spanish for "The Fat One", is designed so that as many people as possible across Spain get a festive windfall.
The top prize this year was three million euros -- going to the series of tickets with the magic number 32365.
As with every December 22, Spain held its collective breath as the country was brought to a virtual standstill for more than three hours as the lottery results were revealed.
"El Gordo" was sang out at 1159 local time (1059GMT) by two students of Madrid's San Ildefonso school.
The Christmas draw has around two centuries of tradition behind it and occupies a special place in the hearts of the vast majority of Spaniards, with many attending the draw year after year in Madrid, especially dressed for the occasion.
Hundreds of people queued since early on Monday morning to get a seat in the venue where the draw took place.
"We came from outside Madrid to attend the draw. We spent the weekend in Madrid and we thought it could be a good idea to come here and see it. We had never come. It is after the draw when Christmas starts,"
Domingo, dressed as an Angel, said before entering the room.
Several of the winning tickets were sold at a lottery kiosk in central Madrid. Avelino Rueda, the kiosk's manager said the prize was shared by many neighbours in the area.
"All we sell is practically separate tickets. We don't have big companies requests or anything like that. It is a working class neighbourhood and we sell separate tickets. So yes, it has been shared by a lot of people," he said as he celebrated drinking cava.
Lotteries have around two centuries of history in Spain, the first draw in the "Modern Lottery" as it was then called taking place in 1812 in Cadiz.
The country spent 2.8 billion euros on the lottery -- three percent less than last year. Seventy percent is paid out in prizes. Most of the rest goes in costs.
Spaniards often choose lottery numbers matching significant dates and this year was no exception, some Spanish media asserting that the number 041008 was especially sought after, corresponding as it does with the date of Barack Obama's election win in the United States.
Spaniards spend an average of 670 euros each a year on betting, according to industry and government figures. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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