Half of Canary Islands Towns Still Await El Gordo Win

Spain's Christmas Lottery, one of its most famous and oldest draws, has brought hope since 1812. But over two centuries later, luck hasn't been shared equally. In the Canary Islands, for example, the top prize – known as "El Gordo" – has only landed in 35 of the Archipelago's 88 towns, according to official figures from State Lotteries and Betting (LAE).

On Tenerife, many towns have never celebrated winning the top prize in the December 22nd draw, even though the island itself is one of the most frequent winners in the region.

While Tenerife has won "El Gordo" many times over the years, the winnings haven't been spread evenly. In fact, 17 municipalities on Tenerife are still waiting to win the Christmas Lottery's first prize.

There are specific municipalities on Tenerife that have never seen "El Gordo." This is quite different from other areas on the island, where the Lottery often awards prizes, especially in certain spots famous for their winning history.

Across the Canary Islands, "El Gordo" has been won 12 times in total. However, not all islands have been equally lucky. La Gomera and La Graciosa are the only islands in the archipelago that have never won the top prize.

El Hierro had a unique experience: it waited the longest of all the islands to celebrate "El Gordo," finally winning last year when the prize went to Valverde.

Even so, more than half of all towns in the Canary Islands are still waiting for their first "Gordo" win. This situation happens every year, adding to the tradition, excitement, and statistics of the lottery.

Beyond Tenerife, there are other towns across the Canary Islands that have also never celebrated winning "El Gordo."

The special Christmas Lottery draw, run by State Lotteries and Betting, takes place every December 22nd and gives out billions of euros in prizes. Despite the numbers, the tradition thrives everywhere in Spain, even in places still hoping for their big win.