About El Gordo

How to play El Gordo & Odds

It is very simple to play and all you need to do is choose five numbers (from a range of 1 – 54) and then one number called “Key Number” (from a range of 0 – 9). The Key Number remains the same for all the lines on your ticket.

In order to win the jackpot, all the numbers played including the Key Number must match the winning numbers.

The odds of winning the jackpot of El Gordo de la Primitiva are 1 in 32 million, and the minimum jackpot value is 5,000,000 euros.

Please find below a table displaying a breakdown of all the prize categories and the odds of winning them:

The El Gordo lottery draws used to take place at 1pm (CET) on Sundays, however since February 2013 the draw has moved to every Sunday at 9:30pm (CET) due to the participation of the Dominican Republic Lotto operator, which joined the game.

More Information

Notable Winners and Jackpots

The El Gordo lottery has been a life changer for hundreds of Spaniards as well as a few Brits who have become millionaires after taking part. The biggest winner was Hugo Barrenda, a chef from Seville and his partner, who pocketed an impressive €33 million on 14 August 2011. According to the Spanish press, Hugo, a huge fan of Sevilla football club, spent €4 million of his winnings on a corporate box at the ground from where he could follow his beloved club.

Another notable winner was an anonymous Murcia resident who won €26 million in 2007after another great rollover. He was reported by tabloid press to have spent big on an Ibiza villa for €2 million. The second largest prize was a 27.15 million jackpot in 2008.

The El Gordo de la Primitiva has established itself as one of Europe's most generous lotteries, so why not give it a try with the chance of winning a life changing prize?

Game History and Changes

The El Gordo de la Primitiva started in 1993 and was initially only played on the last Sunday of each month until October 1997 when the draws started to be held weekly.

In 2005 there was a change in the minimum age of players, moving from 17 to 18 instead. This same year also saw the removal of the rollover cap, which was a very popular development in the eyes of the customers, as it allowed the potential for some higher value prizes to accumulate.

There was also a significant change in 2012 fuelled by tax laws as the Spanish government introduced a 20% tax on prizes above €2,500. In 2020 the 20% tax is applied to the portion of prizes exceeding 40,000 euros.

Further Information

The El Gordo de la Primitiva is a recent addition to the domestic Spanish lottery scene and is often confused with the other highly popular lottery, ‘El Gordo de Navidad" or "Spanish Christmas Lottery" which was founded in 1812, and offers billions in prize money annually.

The El Gordo de la Primitiva has grown in prominence over the last ten years to establish itself in the European domestic lottery market, being responsible for nearly three hundred Spanish millionaires since it began.