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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Spanish Christmas lottery pays out billions El Gordo: Spanish Christmas lottery pays out billions51 Rating:Days before Christmas, a tiny town of 2,000 in cash-strapped Spain found itself richer by €720 million (US$940 million) Thursday after scooping the top prize in the nation's famed Christmas lottery. Billed as the world's richest, the lottery dishes out some €2.52 billion (US$3.29 billion) to winners across the nation. The top prize — dubbed "El Gordo" (The Fat One) — was split among the holders of tickets bearing the number 58268. The number appeared on 1,800 tickets, giving winners €400,000 for their €20 ticket. The state lottery agency said all 1,800 tickets with that number were sold in the town of Granen, located in the arid and barren northeastern Los Monegros area. The news brought the town's residents out onto the street to dance, sing, hug each other and spray sparkling wine all over. "It's brilliant!" Pilar Azagra, who runs the town's lottery store, told Spanish National Television. She appeared a bit stunned. "I haven't had time to react, the number came out and then people started flocking to the shop," she said, adding that many in her family had bought €20 tickets. Azagra said the windfall was more than welcome as several companies in Granen had closed because of the economic crisis forcing many residents to seek employment in neighboring towns and cities. Spain is struggling to emerge from a near two-year recession that has left it with a eurozone-high 21.5 percent unemployment rate. The Gordo lottery aims for a share-the-wealth system, rather than a single jackpot, and thousands of numbers yield at least some kind of return. Lots of people chip in together and buy shares of several or many tickets, meaning it is common for multiple prizes to go to the same town. Other lotteries have larger individual top prizes but El Gordo is ranked as the world's richest for the total sum paid out. The winning number was picked and announced by pupils of Madrid's Saint Ildefonso School in a nationally televised draw. Since it began in 1812, the Dec. 22 lottery has become a favorite holiday tradition. This year, it sold an estimated €2.7 billion in tickets and the state lottery agency estimated per-capita spending of about €70. Spain holds another big lottery Jan. 6 to mark the Feast of the Epiphany. It is known as "El Nino" (The Child), in reference to the baby Jesus.  (Click to display full-size in gallery)
Thanks to TheRightPrice for the tip. AP We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums. If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment. 19 comments. Last comment 1 year ago by . British Columbia Canada Member #116120 September 4, 2011 2436 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 23, 2011, 1:00 pm - IP Logged | |
El Gordo  "You have to be in it to win it!" | | |
charlotte, nc United States Member #108543 March 26, 2011 52 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 23, 2011, 1:19 pm - IP Logged | |
Wow that's got to be and exciting feeling 1800 tickets so just imagine if someone purchased like 10 of those tickets and they are worth $400K. I feel like when the powerball and the mega millions jackpot hit $200- $300 million dollars it should be like this that way this would give others a chance to win maybe not 1800 but at least 100 people but us lotteries don't want to do that because they are greedy they are scared that if this happens the lottery sales will decrease because people will already have won money. | | |
da bronx,city island,n.y. United States Member #30895 January 17, 2006 310 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 23, 2011, 1:26 pm - IP Logged | |
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PA United States Member #66644 October 16, 2008 1280 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 23, 2011, 4:06 pm - IP Logged | |
Wow that's got to be and exciting feeling 1800 tickets so just imagine if someone purchased like 10 of those tickets and they are worth $400K. I feel like when the powerball and the mega millions jackpot hit $200- $300 million dollars it should be like this that way this would give others a chance to win maybe not 1800 but at least 100 people but us lotteries don't want to do that because they are greedy they are scared that if this happens the lottery sales will decrease because people will already have won money.  just imagine if we had very large jackpots that 1 person could potentialy win ........... oh wait, we do & it works very well .........
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Member #0
January 1, 2000
0 Posts
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| | Posted: December 23, 2011, 5:17 pm - IP Logged | |
does no one else find it strange that all 1800 tickets won in one town only? This is what lotteries should do here. | | |
Bahamas
Member #114704
August 5, 2011
422 Posts
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| | Posted: December 23, 2011, 5:23 pm - IP Logged | |
does no one else find it strange that all 1800 tickets won in one town only? This is what lotteries should do here. NO not strange if you understand how the game works. The ticket numbers are like SERIAL NUMBERS. Almost like buying scratch offs if you will. Think of it as a grand scale raffle concept | | |
S.E.Iowa United States Member #120520 December 21, 2011 534 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 23, 2011, 6:08 pm - IP Logged | |
Maybe when our unemployment gets to 21.5% Mr Obama will let us have an El Gordo type of lottery so that we can afford to eat and buy essentials. | | |
New Jersey United States Member #77624 July 13, 2009 7805 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 23, 2011, 6:48 pm - IP Logged | |
just imagine if we had very large jackpots that 1 person could potentialy win ........... oh wait, we do & it works very well ......... IMO This is the way a huge $$$ lottery should be won - spread the $$$ around - DPoly, I know that's your dream but the "whole one winner of a huge jackpot" is just selfish and greedy - especially with so many people in need Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping | | |
United States Member #13375 March 30, 2005 2171 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 23, 2011, 7:29 pm - IP Logged | |
Tax free? In neo-conned Amerika, bank robs you.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store, not a govnoment agency. | | |
United States Member #71625 February 19, 2009 890 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 23, 2011, 7:53 pm - IP Logged | |
Thats what I have been preaching about for years.Let many people win,not just one.They would have more people playing.I could use 5 Thousand right about now couldnt you? So could alot more poor folks.i wish I run a State Lottery it would be the best in the country............Next to Georgia that is. | | |
Bondi Junction Australia Member #57721 December 24, 2007 446 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 23, 2011, 9:16 pm - IP Logged | |
Other state lotteries should start a 'Fat One', it would be fun and raise much-needed revenue. We all get a lot out of lotteries! | | |
Inland Empire United States Member #118131 October 22, 2011 229 Posts Online | | Posted: December 24, 2011, 1:31 am - IP Logged | |
El Gordo-type lottery makes more sense. To most people out there, even $100,000 will make a huge difference in their lives. Even better, it will change many people's lives. I'd rather see 1000 $100,000 winners than 1 $100,000,000 winner. | | |
New Jersey United States Member #77624 July 13, 2009 7805 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 24, 2011, 7:23 am - IP Logged | |
No winner on last night's Mega Millions but 31 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $250,000 prize: 5 from California, 1 from Connecticut, 1 from Georgia, 1 from Illinois, 1 from Indiana, 3 from Massachusetts, 3 from New Jersey, 5 from New York, 3 from Ohio, 2 from Tennessee, 3 from Texas, 1 from Virginia, 1 from Washington, and 1 from Wisconsin. Now that's what I like to see - lots of second prize: winners will have an even happier holiday season Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping | | |
Housekeeper MICHIGAN United States Member #82269 October 28, 2009 13119 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 24, 2011, 7:44 am - IP Logged | |
Congrats to all the winners. | | |
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