The El Niño Lottery
The Spanish El Niño Lottery
The Spanish El Niño Lottery, officially known as Lotería del Niño, is Spain’s second most popular lottery after the Christmas Lottery El Gordo de Navidad. The draw takes place every year on 6 January in Madrid, coinciding with the traditional Epiphany holiday. The top prize amounts to €2,000,000 per series (equivalent to €200,000 per décimo).
As with El Gordo, players usually purchase a décimo, which represents one tenth of a full ticket. Each five-digit ticket number (ranging from 00000 to 99999) is issued across multiple series. For El Niño, approximately 55 series are typically released.
El Niño is known for its attractive prize structure: in addition to the three major top prizes, numerous secondary prizes are awarded, including approximation, ending-digit, and consolation prizes. In total, around €770,000,000 is distributed in prizes each year.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Draw date | 6 January (from approx. 12:00) |
| Location | Madrid |
| Number range | 00000–99999 |
| Series | approx. 55 series |
| Décimos per ticket | 10 |
| Total prize pool | approx. €770,000,000 |
| Top prize (El Niño) | €2,000,000 per series (€200,000 per décimo) |
Prize structure (excerpt)
| Category | Quantity | per series | per décimo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize – El Niño | 1 | €2,000,000 | €200,000 |
| 2nd Prize | 1 | €750,000 | €75,000 |
| 3rd Prize | 1 | €250,000 | €25,000 |
| Other prize categories | – | various | various |
Note: Figures and facts for El Niño are based on typical official data. Minor variations may occur depending on the specific edition.
