Spaniards glued to Christmas mega-lottery

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

MADRID (AFP) — Spaniards were glued to their televisions and radios on Saturday as the numbers were drawn for the world's biggest lottery with 2.2 billion euros (3.2 billion dollars) up for grabs.

The Christmas lottery, held every December 22, has been going since 1812 and is a national institution watched with bated breath by millions of Spaniards all hoping to win the "El Gordo" ("The Fat One") top prize.

The draw lasts three-and-a-half hours and is carried live on national television with children from the San Ildefonso school, a former orphanage in Madrid, chanting the winning numbers.

Eight out of ten Spaniards bought tickets for the lottery, spending on average 64 euros for a total 2.9 billion euros, up 5.7 percent from 2006.

© 2007 AFP

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