Every December 22nd, Spain comes to a standstill to follow one of the most deeply rooted rituals of the holidays: the Extraordinary Christmas Lottery Draw. Thousands of people buy tickets in the hope of winning the coveted Gordo, worth 400,000 euros per ticket, or one of the many smaller prizes that also provide excitement.
Often, tickets are shared among family members, friends or co-workers, which raises questions about how to ensure that everyone gets their share in the event of a win. This classic question has returned to the scene this year for an unexpected reason: the announcement of the Christmas Lottery 2025.
In the spot, the tenth ticket appears framed and with a handwritten phrase on the back, which has led many viewers to wonder if it is legal to write or sign a tenth ticket without losing its validity.
Is it possible to write on a lottery ticket? What SELAE says
According to SELAE (Loterías y Apuestas del Estado) confirmed to the newspaper 20minutos, there is no rule that prohibits writing or painting on a ticket, nor does it automatically invalidate it. That is to say, it is valid to write on it, whether it is a signature or a note to record that the ticket is shared.
However, there are important nuances:
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The writing must not damage, obscure or compromise the information necessary to validate the tenth.
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For this reason, it is recommended to do it only on the back, as the administrations themselves do when stamping tickets.
The key to collecting a prize is that the number, the series, the fraction and the validation codes are still perfectly visible.
What happens if an administration does not accept it?
SELAE also points out that, should an administration consider that the tenth is too deteriorated or compromised, there is a verification department in charge of checking its condition.
This department analyzes:
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the authenticity of the tenth,
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if the codes can be read,
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and if the possible damage prevents payment.
That is to say, even if a window rejects a lottery ticket, it does not mean that it is lost: the specialized department can determine its validity.
Signing a shared tenth: is it advisable?
The practice of signing a shared tenth has become widespread in recent years as a way to prevent disputes. Although it is not mandatory, it can be useful in case of disputes, as long as it is signed in an area that does not affect the ticket data. It is still equally valid, and will avoid problems if the prize is high.
What are the big changes in the Christmas Lottery 2025?
The traditional Christmas Lottery draw arrives this year with important adjustments that will mark a before and after in one of the most awaited events of the holidays. The 2025 edition will include more series in play and an increase in the total amount of money distributed, making this year’s draw the most generous since its creation.
The first significant change directly affects the number of series to be put into circulation. In this edition, the number increases from 193 to 198, i.e., five additional series are added.
In the Christmas Lottery system, a series is equivalent to the set of tickets containing all the participating numbers. Each one is made up of 10 tenths, so the increase implies a greater number of tickets available.
This means that each of the 100,000 numbers that go into the draw will have 1,980 tickets for sale (compared to 1,930 last year), increasing the possibilities of participation and of more people being able to share the same number.
The second major novelty is related to the total amount to be distributed in prizes. This year, the Christmas Lottery will distribute 2,772 million euros, which represents 70 million more than in 2024.
The coveted “Gordo” also breaks records: each winning series will receive 4 million euros, which means a total of 792 million euros for the first prize alone. For the players, this translates into 400,000 euros per tenth.
However, as usual, prizes are not completely tax-free. The amounts won up to 40,000 euros are free of tax, but from that figure comes into play the 20% withholding tax applied by the Treasury. This implies that, if a winner obtains the first prize, he/she will finally receive about 328,000 euros.
In the case of the second prize of 125,000 euros, the net amount is reduced to 108,000 euros, and the third prize of 50,000 euros is 48,000 euros after deductions.
