There is exactly a week left until the El Gordo Christmas lottery is drawn on December 22. El Gordo, meaning "the fat one" is an annual event held in Spain and sends Spaniards into a state of hysteria. I have never known such a gambling nation and queues form outside lottery shops and kiosks daily in the lead-up to the day. It is managed by the Government under "Loterias y Apuestas del Estado"- the Spanish lottery organization. 30% of the ticket sales go to the Government in taxes and the remaining 70% is paid out in prizes, meaning the more people that play the bigger the jackpot. It is a win win situation for the Government as any winnings over €2,000 are also subject to a 20% tax.

Click on "Read more" to read full article

Christmas has certainly now arrived in Benidorm, marked by the lights being officially switched on at the Plaza de Navidad – meaning Christmas Square (The Town Hall Square). This extended Bank Holiday weekend has seen an influx of people into the resort and you can almost feel the buzz and excitement in the air. Remember tomorrow, Tuesday 8 is a National holiday - Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Click on "Read more" button to view full story

Benidorm is officially on Christmas countdown following the inauguration of the lights in the Town Hall Square on Saturday evening – good job it wasn´t Sunday as the heavens opened and haven´t really stopped since!

Click on "Read more" button below to read full article

As we are now in December, the countdown to Christmas is on. But most people in Spain look forward not to 24th or 25th – but to 22nd, which is the day that the El Gordo National Lottery is drawn! The El Gordo lottery pays out more prizes than any other lottery draw in the world and almost everyone in Spain plays - the average spend is 70 euros per person.

Click on "Read more" button below to read full story

You can tell that the countdown is on – not for Christmas but for the El Gordo lottery! I have never known such a gambling nation... queues form outside lottery shops and kiosks daily in the lead-up to the day, especially on the Calle Gambo and another just off the walking street in the Old Town, both of which have sold winning tickets in the last few years.

Click on "Read more" button below to read full article

The El Gordo Christmas Lottery takes place today with over 2,240 million euro´s in prizes up for grabs, with the winning ticket sharing 640 million – each "decimo" or 20€ ticket stands to receive 400,000 euros!

Click on "Read more" button below to read full article

It’s all about balls here in Spain today – lottery balls, but more specifically the El Gordo. The annual Christmas draw takes place today, starting at 9am in Madrid at the Teatro Real, where children of San Ildefonso school sing the numbers out. Initially it is quite cute, but after three hours….

Click on "Read more" button below to read full story

The countdown is on here and if you want to feel like a true Spaniard then head down to the lottery kiosk and get in line with the dozen or so others to purchase that much prized "Loteria de Navidad" or El Gordo lottery ticket. The draw takes place this coming Friday, 22 December and virtually everyone here in Spain takes part. You can almost feel the excitement in the air as you walk past long queues outside the lottery shops and kiosks, with everyone hoping to win a slice of hope. There is more than €2,380 million in prize money to be won, but ticket sales close at 5pm on Thursday 21, so don’t leave it till the last minute.

Click on "Read more" icon to read full article