{"id":10538,"date":"2026-02-24T09:42:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T09:42:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.thelotter.com\/?p=10538"},"modified":"2026-04-26T10:24:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T10:24:17","slug":"spanish-lotteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelotter.com\/blog\/lottery-games\/spanish-lotteries\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Spanish Lotteries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Ultimate Guide to Spanish Lotteries<\/h1>\n\n\n
TheLotter<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Lottery Games<\/a><\/span> \u00bb The Ultimate Guide to Spanish Lotteries<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n

Spanish lotteries have been around for centuries, since 1763 to be exact, and have been offering Spanish citizens the biggest lottery and raffle prizes in the world<\/a>. Some of the most famous Spanish lotteries include La Primitiva<\/a>,El Gordo<\/a>, and, of course, Spain’s famous Christmas Raffle Loteria de Navidad. In this guide, you can learn all about these lotteries and others, including game rules, draw times, winning odds, record jackpots, and how you can start playing them online!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Are You Ready to Start Winning Big with Spanish Lotteries?<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Spain is famous for many things; flamenco, bullfighting, Pablo Picasso and of course, staging the biggest and most exciting lotteries in the world. The Spanish National Lottery has paid out billions in prizes to local lottery fans over the past two centuries, and now, you can start winning them too! At TheLotter, players from across the globe can get play and win huge prizes from five of Spain\u2019s most rewarding lotteries: La Primitiva, El Gordo and BonoLoto, as well as the pan-European EuroMillions and EuroJackpot!<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Spanish Jackpot Records<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the pan-European EuroMillions dominates in this category, each Spanish lottery has had enormous jackpots worth mentioning. Check out the record jackpot from each of the 5 Spanish lotteries!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lottery<\/th>Prize<\/th>Date<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
EuroMillions Spain<\/td>\u20ac230 million <\/td>19 July 2022<\/td><\/tr>
La Primitiva<\/td>\u20ac101.7 million<\/td>15 October 2015<\/td><\/tr>
EuroJackpot<\/td>\u20ac120 Million<\/td>First won on 22 July 2022<\/td><\/tr>
El Gordo<\/td>\u20ac33 million<\/td>14 July 2011<\/td><\/tr>
BonoLoto<\/td>\u20ac7.6 million<\/td>11 December 2018<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Which Spanish Lottery has the Best Odds?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, it\u2019s hard choosing which lottery to play next, especially when they all have amazing prizes and benefits. One easy thing you can do is check the odds of winning the lottery jackpot<\/a>. The lower the odds, the higher your chances of claiming a prize! The Spanish lottery with the best odds of winning is undoubtedly Spain Bonoloto. Because of its smaller jackpot prize and the fact that it stages seven lottery draws a week, the odds of winning the top prize is an unbeatable 1;13,983,816! Compared to other Spanish lotteries, Bonoloto is the game to play if you want to win fast. If you want to win the biggest jackpots in Spain, you have some stiff competition! The Spanish lotteries with the lowest odds of winning are the national favourites; La Primitiva and EuroMillions Spain. When you play either of these, your odds of winning is 1:139.838,160. While these incredibly low odds may seem daunting, winning a prize from either is well worth it! Check out the jackpot winning odds of each Spanish lottery in the table below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lottery<\/th>Match<\/th>Jackpot Odds<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
La Primitiva<\/td>6\/60<\/td>1:139,838,160<\/td><\/tr>
El Gordo<\/td>5\/54 + 1\/10<\/td>1:31,625,100<\/td><\/tr>
BonoLoto<\/td>5\/80<\/td>1:13,983,816<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Which Spanish Lottery has the Best Odds?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, it\u2019s hard choosing which lottery to play next, especially when they all have amazing prizes and benefits. One easy thing you can do is check the odds of winning the lottery jackpot<\/a>. The lower the odds, the higher your chances of claiming a prize! The Spanish lottery with the best odds of winning is undoubtedly Spain Bonoloto. Because of its smaller jackpot prize and the fact that it stages seven lottery draws a week, the odds of winning the top prize is an unbeatable 1;13,983,816! Compared to other Spanish lotteries, Bonoloto is the game to play if you want to win fast. If you want to win the biggest jackpots in Spain, you have some stiff competition! The Spanish lotteries with the lowest odds of winning are the national favourites; La Primitiva and EuroMillions Spain. When you play either of these, your odds of winning is 1:139.838,160. While these incredibly low odds may seem daunting, winning a prize from either is well worth it! Check out the jackpot winning odds of each Spanish lottery in the table below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lottery<\/th>Match<\/th>Jackpot Odds<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
La Primitiva<\/td>6\/60<\/td>1:139,838,160<\/td><\/tr>
El Gordo<\/td>5\/54 + 1\/10<\/td>1:31,625,100<\/td><\/tr>
BonoLoto<\/td>5\/80<\/td>1:13,983,816<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Can Foreigners Play Spanish Lotteries Online?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the past, only Spanish citizens could participate. Now, with the advancement of technology and the internet, anyone with a wifi connection can play in Spain\u2019s biggest lotteries online! Through ticket messenger services like TheLotter<\/a>, players can purchase official tickets which are bought through local offices from official lottery ticket retailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Spanish Lottery Prizes Taxed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Non-Resident Income Tax is charged in the form of a \u201cspecial tax\u201d on lottery and raffle winnings awarded by the Spanish National Lottery. Unlike income tax on citizens of Spain, this special tax is not final and can be revoked. If you’re a citizen of a foreign country, you may be entitled to a tax refund in order to prevent double taxation on your winnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spanish lottery prizes are subject to two tax bands:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tax Band<\/th>Amount<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Tax Band 1<\/td>Tax-free up to \u20ac40,000<\/td><\/tr>
Tax Band 2<\/td>Any prize exceeding \u20ac40,000 is subject to a 20% tax rate<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Many countries have agreements to avoid international double taxation in the form of a fixed withholding tax rate. If the withholding rate is higher than what your country has agreed to, you can request to get a refund on the excess withholdings. For example, if your country has an agreement with Spain for a 5% withholding rate, you can request to receive the excess 15% of the original 20% tax rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get your tax refund, you must submit a 210 Declaration of Income Tax for Non-Residents form (IRNR) to the Spanish National Tax Management Office by February 1 of the following year. You will also be required to prove that you are not a resident of Spain by obtaining and submitting a Certificate of Fiscal Residence issued by your country\u2019s Tax Authority. Once your request has been approved, you will receive your tax refund via bank transfer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you confused yet? So are we! That\u2019s why TheLotter always suggests that one of the first things you should do when you win the lottery<\/a> is retain a reputable a tax adviser who has previous experience with lottery winners and knows their way around international taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which Spanish Lotteries are Offered at TheLotter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TheLotter offers up three lotteries exclusively in played Spain, as well as EuroMillions and EuroJackpot; two multi-national lotteries offered in various European countries, including Spain! You can read our guide to playing EuroMillions online<\/a>, as well as our complete Eurojackpot Guide<\/a> to get in-depth info about these incredible European lotteries<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep on reading to learn all about the centuries-old La Primitiva, the \u201cFat One\u201d El Gordo, and Spain’s rewarding daily lottery Bonoloto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spain La Primitiva<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

La Primitiva<\/a> is Spain\u2019s first official lottery, as well as one of Europe\u2019s oldest lotteries still operating. It was introduced in the 18th century as the \u201cRoyal Lottery\u201d by Carlos III as a way of obtaining money to fund hospitals, hospices and other public charities without levying a new tax on the Spanish public. The first draw of this new lottery known as Loter\u00eda por N\u00fameros, or Lottery by Numbers, was staged on the 10th of December 1763, earning 187,000 reias. In 1812 the name was changed to its current La Primitiva. The lottery was eventually abolished in 1862 and was only reestablished by the Organismo Nacional de Loter\u00edas y Apuestas del Estado (ONLAE) in August 1985, more than a century later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spanish National Lottery allocates 55% of the ticket revenue towards prizes while the rest is contributed towards state programs and charities, such as the Red Cross and the Spanish Association Against Cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Play<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spain La Primitiva has a 6\/49 format, meaning players must select six numbers from a guess range of 1-49, as well as one Reintegro <\/em>number from a range of 0-9. The Reintegro<\/em>, or Refund number, has two functions. In addition to creating the 6+R jackpot prize, players who match it regardless of if they match any other winning number, are entitled to a full refund on the cost of their La Primitiva lottery ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the Reintegro <\/em>number, another bonus ball, called Complementario (Complimentary), is added, creating the third 5+1+R third prize division and the 5+1 fourth prize division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prize<\/th>Match<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Prize 1<\/td>6+R<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 2<\/td>6<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 3<\/td>5+1+R<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 4<\/td>5+1<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 5<\/td>5+R<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 6<\/td>5<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 7<\/td>4+R<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 8<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 9<\/td>3+R<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 10<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 11<\/td>0+R<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The La Primitiva top prize starts at \u20ac5 million<\/strong> and is known to have numerous rollovers before being won. The jackpot record of \u20ac101.7 million<\/strong> was won in October 2015 after a total of 56 rollovers! In addition to the jackpot prize, La Primitiva players can also win from the lottery\u2019s 10 secondary prize divisions. A lottery with a similar starting jackpot prize is Japan Loto 7<\/a>, which offers a minimum top prize of \u00a5600 million<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

La Primitiva stages lottery draws every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday at 20:30 GMT. Check out the La Primitiva results page<\/a> to see if you\u2019ve won!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spain El Gordo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

El Gordo<\/a> de la Primitiva was established in 1993, almost a decade after La Primitiva was reintroduced to Spanish lottery fans in 1985. The game was created to have a similar format to La Primitiva, only with larger prizes and better odds of winning them. While it started out as a monthly draw, due to popular demand it was decided that El Gordo draws would become a weekly affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to play<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To participate in an El Gordo lottery draw, players must select 5 main numbers from a range of 1-54 as well as one Numero Clave<\/em>, between 0-9. The Numero Clave<\/em> is needed to win the jackpot prize and is also used to give players who match it a full refund on the cost of their El Gordo ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To win the jackpot prize, players must match the 5 main numbers as well as the Numero Clave<\/em> number. You can compare your numbers to the winning numbers drawn on our up-to-date El Gordo results page<\/a> after every draw. You can win impressive secondary lottery prizes by matching 5, 4, 3, or 2 of the numbers drawn with or without the Numero Clave<\/em> number. Matching just the Numero Clave<\/em> number entitles you to a refund of the ticket price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prize<\/th>Match<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Prize 1<\/td>5+N\u00ba Clave<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 2<\/td>5<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 3<\/td>4+N\u00ba Clave<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 4<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 5<\/td>3+N\u00ba Clave<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 6<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 7<\/td>2+N\u00ba Clave<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 8<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 9<\/td>0+N\u00ba Clave<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

El Gordo draws take place every Sunday at 21:30 GMT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Spain BonoLoto<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BonoLoto<\/a> was created by Loter\u00edas y Apuestas del Estado in 1988 to give Spanish lottery fans a cost-effective playing option. This lottery, while having smaller prizes as a result of the lower ticket costs, routinely hands out jackpots due to the low range and daily draws every Monday through Sunday at 21:30 Spain time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to play<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To win the Bonoloto jackpot prize, players must match 6 numbers from a guess range of 1-49. At the draw, a seventh bonus number called Complementario (Complimentary) is drawn and used to create the lottery\u2019s secondary 5+1 prize category. Unlike the other lotteries on our list, the BonoLoto jackpot is won by only matching the 6 main numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prize<\/th>Match<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Prize 1<\/td>6<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 2<\/td>6+R<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 3<\/td>5+1<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 4<\/td>5+1+R<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 5<\/td>5+R<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 6<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 7<\/td>4+R<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 8<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 9<\/td>3+R<\/td><\/tr>
Prize 10<\/td>0+R<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just like Spain La Primitiva, Bonoloto features a Reintegro <\/em>number which is randomly assigned to all Bonoloto lottery tickets upon purchase. If your ticket matched the Reintegro <\/em>number drawn, regardless of if you matched any of the winning numbers, you\u2019ll receive a full refund on the cost of your ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the \u201cReintegro\u201d Number?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Reintegro<\/em>, or refund number, features in all Spanish lotteries. This bonus number is used to refund the player the cost of their lottery ticket. At every lottery draw, 10%, an estimated \u20ac1.4 million<\/strong>, is put aside to pay for the ticket refunds. The Reintegro<\/em> consists of one number from a range of 0-9. La Primitiva and El Gordo allow you to choose your own Reintegro <\/em>number, while BonoLoto automatically assigns a random Reintegro <\/em>number to your ticket. After the main numbers are drawn, the Reintegro<\/em> number is selected from a separate drum. If you match the Reintegro<\/em> with any other winning number or even alone, you\u2019re entitled to a full refund of the cost of your lottery ticket. There\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll be getting your money back too, as the odds of matching the Reintegro<\/em> number are 1 in 10! In La Primitiva and El Gordo draws, the Reintegro<\/em> number also serves as one of the numbers needed to win the jackpot prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a similar extra number In the El Gordo lottery. In addition to the five main numbers, you also choose an additional Numero Clave<\/em> number from a range of 0-9. This extra number is drawn from a separate drum. To win the El Gordo jackpot, you must match the five main numbers as well as the Numero Clave<\/em>. Partial matches of the main numbers as well as the Numero Clave<\/em> may entitle you to a secondary prize. Matching only the Numero Clave<\/em> will entitle you to a refund of the cost of your lottery ticket, less TheLotter\u2019s service fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of Spanish lotteries, Portugal also offers a similar feature called N\u00famero da Sorte<\/em>, or Lucky Number. When you play Portugal Totoloto online<\/a>, you have a chance at receiving a refund on the cost of your ticket when you match this extra number. The N\u00famero da Sorte<\/em> also creates six of the draw’s ten prize divisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spanish Lottery Raffles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Spain\u2019s world-renowned raffles are famous for their enormous prize pools, unbeatable winning odds, and numerous prize categories. You can get in-depth information on Spain\u2019s exciting raffles including draw dates, winning odds and more by reading our Spanish Raffle Guide<\/a>. Learn more about the world’s biggest lottery raffles<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lottery<\/th>Prize<\/th>Date<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Loteria de Navidad<\/td>Up to \u20ac2.702 billion<\/td>22 December<\/td><\/tr>
Loteria Del Nino<\/td>\u20ac770 million<\/td>6 January<\/td><\/tr>
Loteria Nacional<\/td>\u20ac2.4 million and \u20ac4.1 million<\/td>Thursday and Saturday<\/td><\/tr>
Loteria Nacional Extra<\/td>Up to \u20ac140 million<\/td>Once a month<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Players can also enter EuroMillions El Mill\u00f3n raffle. Unlike other Spanish raffles, players are automatically entered by when they purchase a ticket for either one of the EuroMillions Spain bi-weekly draws. The pan-European raffle guarantees one lucky player a rewarding top prize of \u20ac1 million<\/strong> in every draw. Read our EuroMillions Raffle Guide to learn about all of the EuroMillions rewarding lottery raffles, how to get EuroMillions raffle results<\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The History of Lotteries in Spain – A National Tradition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Spain set up the Royal Lottery<\/em> as a charity in 1763 during the reign of King Carlos III. The game was called \u201cLottery by Numbers\u201d and was the predecessor to the modern La Primitiva. The proceeds for this lottery benefitted hospitals, hospices for the sick and elderly and other such charities. Around half a century later in 1811 during the Spanish War of Independence, The Royal National Lottery of Spain was established along with a new game called Modern Lottery<\/em> as a way of collecting funds to the public treasury without imposing a new tax on the people. Instead of choosing their numbers like in La Primitiva<\/em>, Spanish players purchased tickets with pre-assigned numbers already printed onto them. This raffle was later renamed as Loteria Nacional<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spain\u2019s first official lottery draw was staged in Madrid on 28 February 1814. This was the start of Spain’s long love affair with lotteries. From then until the 20th century, Spain’s lotteries consisted of Loteria Nacional Loteria, Loter\u00eda de Navidad, and Loteria Del Nino; games which are still being played to this very day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the 20th century brought greater demand for more lotteries, new games and raffle were created to meet them. In 1985, La Primitiva was brought back over a century after it was abolished in 1862. La Primitiva\u2019s success brought about BonoLoto in 1988 and El Gordo in 1993. In addition to its own lotteries, Spain also joined the pan-European lottery EuroMillions in 2004 and EuroJackpot in 2012. Spanish players also enjoy two lottery games based on racehorse betting and a lottery for football betting, where the player needs to predict the outcome of 15 Spanish football matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start Playing Spanish Lotteries Today!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to be from Spain to participate in Spanish lotteries! Spain’s draw games are amongst the oldest modern lotteries in the world and there\u2019s a reason they still have millions of fans from across the globe to this day. If you like Spanish lotteries, you may also enjoy playing Italy\u2019s\u00a0SuperEnalotto<\/a>! The Italian gem not only hands out some of\u00a0the worlds biggest prizes<\/a>, but it also holds the title of paying out the largest European jackpot prize in history!<\/p>\n\n\n\n