In Spain, people are forming queues to purchase lottery tickets ahead of the El Gordo ("Fat Man") holiday lottery draw. The total prize fund for the event amounts to €2.59 billion, distributed in various smaller amounts ranging from €20 to €400,000. Tickets are available at the Dona Manolita store in the heart of Madrid, a location considered by many Spaniards to be the luckiest in the country.
Participation in the El Gordo draw is not solely motivated by the prospect of winning money for the residents of Spain. There is a belief that a winning ticket will bring good luck to its owner throughout the coming year. According to surveys conducted in 2020, 72% of Spaniards who purchase lottery tickets express the intention to try their luck again the following year, even if they win modest amounts.
