CHRISTMAS may be an unwelcome word for residents and tourists enjoying the Spanish summer sunshine, but forward planning is always useful – such as buying your festive lottery ticket five months early.
The State betting agency has put the famous El Gordo Christmas lottery on sale already, even though it is not drawn until the night of December 22.
Their aim is for the 202-year-old competition to increase its prize pot by persuading holidaymakers to buy a décimo, or 10th of a ticket, the price of which remains fixed at €20.
That way, they can 'take a piece of Spanish luck home with them', says lottery board chairwoman Inmaculada García.
Also, it will help cashflow for year-round residents who would otherwise decide not to buy an El Gordo ticket in December as the usual extra Christmas expenditure means €20 is harder to find.
Over 10,400 points of sale have opened across Spain, but mostly in coastal areas and other towns popular with tourists.
An advertising slogan on a poster reads: “¿Y si cae aquí el Gordo de Navidad?” ('What if the Christmas El Gordo lottery struck here?'), with the word aquí, or 'here', as the name of a town on a signpost.
Just like last year, the El Gordo lottery will hand out €640 million in prize money, with the winning ticket netting a cool €4m.
But as a full ticket costs €200, most people buy a décimo, or 10th of a ticket at €20, meaning the first prize will be €400,000.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com