What is El Gordo de Navidad?
El Gordo de Navidad (The Fat One of Christmas) is the world's biggest lottery by total prize money — distributing over €2.5 billion every December 22nd. Unlike jackpot lotteries, El Gordo spreads the wealth across thousands of winners. The top prize is €400,000 per décimo (1/10th of a ticket), with 1 in 100,000 odds — astronomically better than any other major lottery. The draw is broadcast live on Spanish TV and is a massive cultural event, with families and office pools sharing tickets. It has been held every year since 1812. International players outside the US can purchase décimos through theLotter.
How to Play El Gordo de Navidad
Buy a décimo (1/10th share) of a 5-digit ticket number from 00000 to 99999. Each décimo costs €20. On December 22nd, children from Madrid's San Ildefonso school sing out the winning numbers in a televised ceremony that lasts hours. The top prize (El Gordo) pays €400,000 per décimo. Multiple numbers win prizes across 9 tiers.
US residents cannot currently purchase El Gordo de Navidad tickets online from US-based courier services. Federal regulations restrict Americans from buying foreign lottery tickets through internet courier services. To play El Gordo de Navidad, you would need to purchase tickets in person while traveling to Spain.
Looking for lotteries you CAN play from the US? Check out Powerball, Mega Millions, and other US lotteries available through licensed lottery courier services in select states.
Purchase official El Gordo de Navidad tickets through theLotter — the world's leading lottery courier service since 2002. Get a scanned copy of your ticket and keep 100% of winnings.
Buy El Gordo de Navidad Tickets →
What Makes El Gordo de Navidad Special?
Best odds of ANY major lottery — 1 in 100,000. Over €2.5 billion in total prizes. Thousands of winners every draw. A 200+ year Christmas tradition shared by millions. Buy a décimo for just €20.
How to Buy El Gordo de Navidad Tickets Online
Buy official El Gordo de Navidad tickets online through theLotter in 4 simple steps:
How to Play El Gordo de Navidad (If Traveling to Spain)
While US residents cannot purchase El Gordo de Navidad tickets online from the US, you can buy them in person if you travel to Spain or any participating country. Here's how:
Try sweepstakes casinos instead — no purchase necessary, available in most US states, and you can win real prizes.
Buy Powerball and Mega Millions tickets through licensed courier services in select states.
Join millions of players worldwide. Buy official tickets online through theLotter.
Buy Tickets at theLotter →El Gordo de Navidad FAQ
You can buy official El Gordo de Navidad tickets online through licensed lottery courier services like theLotter. They purchase physical tickets from authorized retailers in Spain on your behalf and send you a scanned copy as proof. You keep 100% of any winnings. Note: US residents cannot currently purchase international lottery tickets online due to federal regulations.
The jackpot odds are 1 in 100,000, which is 2922x better than US Powerball (1 in 292 million). The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 7. There are 9 prize tiers in total.
A El Gordo de Navidad ticket costs €200 (full ticket) / €20 (décimo share) (approximately $22 per décimo USD) when purchased at an authorized retailer in Spain. Online courier services charge a small service fee on top of the ticket price.
Spain taxes lottery prizes over €40,000 at 20%. Prizes below €40,000 are tax-free.
El Gordo de Navidad drawings are held every December 22 (annual) at 9:00 AM CET (3:00 AM ET). Results are available within minutes of the draw on the official lottery website.
WinTheLottery.com is an independent informational site. We are not affiliated with El Gordo de Navidad or its operating organization. US residents cannot purchase international lottery tickets online due to federal regulations. This page is for informational and educational purposes only. US residents are responsible for reporting and paying applicable federal and state taxes on any lottery winnings. Must be 18+ to play. Play responsibly.