The whole lottery sheet is called: “Billete” “The image on the left would help to understand: Billete” is divided into 10 tenths called “Decimo” (Red box). Each year, there are 100.000 different numeracy, 5-digits numbers are printed on them ranging from 00.000 up to 99.999 in each set. Each set of sheets is printed multiple times in many different “Billete”.
There are a limited number of “El Gordo” lottery tenths (“Decimo”) on offer. When all of the tenths are sold out, there are no more tenths available for sale. The number of printed sheets varies each year. Because of that, the total number of “El Gordo de Navidad” tenths on offer is different each year. For example, in 2016 there were 100.000 numbers printed in 165 sheets each number.
100.000 Numbers x 165 Sheets = 16.5 million of “Billete”
Since each “Billete” is divided for 10 tenths (“Decimo”), it means that 165 million of tenths were available for sale in 2016.
Very comon practise among Spanish lottery players is to buy as many “Decimo” from different numbers. This allows to increase chances of winning a prize, however at the expense of the winning size.
Another common way to participate in the Spanish christmas lottery is to create a group of players or syndicates, where all participants agree to share the winnings between the total number of people taking in that kind of scheme.
The way it´s structured, this lottery is ideal for syndicates where you can garantee a minimum prize/return. Choosing the right numbers and combine them we can guarantee a minimum prize/return from 10% to 25 % in Xmas Draw. The percentage will depend on the amount played:
Since December 18, 1812, the draw was used two spherical vessels. The big one contains 100.000 small wooden balls, each with a unique 5-digit number on it, from 00.000 to 99.999.
1 ball for the first prize, called
“El Gordo”. (5 digits number)
1 ball for the second prize.
(5 digits number)
1 ball for the third prize.
(5 digits number)
1 ball for the first prize, called
“El Gordo”. (5 digits number)
1 ball for the second prize.
(5 digits number)
1 ball for the third prize.
(5 digits number)