Spain's Lottery Sellers Call for Bigger Christmas Jackpot Amid Inflation
Spain is facing a cost-of-living crisis marked by rising housing and energy expenses, shrinking disposable income, and dimming hopes for lottery players dreaming of a jackpot win.
Some buyers start purchasing their Christmas lottery tickets as early as spring, investing significant amounts in the hope of a big win.
Request to Increase Ticket Price and Top Prize
Borja Muniz, President of ANAPAL—the association representing 4,100 lottery shops—urged the government to raise both the ticket price and the prize for the traditional Christmas lottery.
"The jackpot hasn't changed in 14 years, while prices have climbed about 26%," said Muniz. "Before, you could buy two apartments with it. Now it barely covers one."
ANAPAL proposed increasing the price of a tenth of a ticket, called a decimo, from 20 euros to 25 euros, and raising the top prize from 400,000 euros to 500,000 euros per winning decimo.
The proposal has been sent to the state-run lottery agency and the Budget Ministry, although the lottery agency has declined to comment.
Calls to Raise Commission Rates
Lottery sellers also want their commission on Christmas draw sales increased from 4.5% to 6%, aligning it with commissions on other national lottery draws.
Upcoming Changes in 2025 Draw
The Spain Christmas Lottery 2025 will feature historic changes to the traditional draw scheduled for December 22.
"Some people start buying their Christmas tickets as early as Spring and spend small fortunes," noted a Majorca Daily Bulletin reporter.
Author's summary: Spain’s lottery sellers urge raising ticket prices and jackpots for the Christmas lottery to offset inflation and sustain both player interest and their earnings amid rising costs.