El Gordo de Navidad - The Christmas lottery draw just hours away

There are just hours to go before the children’s choir from the San Ildefonso school in Madrid sing out the winning numbers for this year’s Christmas lottery - El Gordo de Navidad ( the Christmas Fat One) in which an expected 2.32 Billion Euros will be shared out.

The prize fund carries a payout per series number of 3 million €, or 300,000 € for the those who have spent 20 € in a tenth part of a ticket. 85,000 numbers in 195 series enter the draw. The most popular numbers sold are those ending in either 5 or 7, and the chance of winning a big prize, according to a study by the Carlos III University in Madrid is estimated to be about one in 50,000.

Statistically Madrid is the luckiest Place to live – taking the Jackpot a total of 77 times in the past, whilst those in Ávila, Zamora, Melilla and Salamanca are hoping that their luck will change and see a first jackpot win of the draw.