MADRID: Thrilled Spaniards sang, cheered and celebrated throughout the country on Friday (Dec 22) as the Christmas lottery draw known as "El Gordo" (The Fat One) dished out prizes in a centuries-old tradition that kicks off the holiday season.
Considered the world's largest draw by the total prize pot, this year's edition reached 2.59 billion euros (US$2.85 billion), 70 million euros more than last year.
Like Rodrigo Merino from Madrid, who bought one of the top prize 88008 tickets with three other friends, many Spaniards club together with family, friends or co-workers to buy tickets.
The top prize, worth 400,000 euros this year, was distributed among many people who had bought the winning number, 88008.
In this lottery, there can be several tickets with the same number sold to different groups in different places.
On average, each Spaniard bought 70 euros worth of tickets this year, the state lottery said on Friday.
Winning numbers are traced to certain vendors sparking superstitions on where to queue and celebrations at the shops when they sell the winning number. — Reuters