MADRID, Spain - Economic woes eased for thousands in Spain on Monday as the Christmas lottery -- billed among the world's richest -- dished out the equivalent of almost C$4 billion in prizes.
The top prize of the lottery dubbed "El Gordo" (The Fat One) went to holders of tickets bearing the number 32365 -- which appears on 1,950 tickets, each winning the equivalent of some C$509,000.
Thousands of others cashed in on runner-up prizes.
The top number was sung out at just after noon on Monday by pupils of Madrid's Saint Ildefonso School in a nationally televised draw held each Dec. 22.
Rather than a single jackpot, the lottery aims for a share-out in which thousands of numbers yield at least some kind of return.
The draw brought scenes of jubilation across Spain.
In the central town of Soria, Ricardo Jimenez's bar sold all 1,950 of the third prize tickets, spreading some C$165 million among customers, family and friends.
Television images showed him being showered with sparking wine by celebrating clients.
"I'm still shaking," said Jimenez, who bought 15 tickets worth almost C$1.3 million for himself. "But I'll keep on working. I'll share this with my three children."
Since it began in 1812, the Christmas lottery has become a favourite holiday tradition. This year, it sold an estimated C$6.6 billion countrywide. The figure, though large, was down nearly three per cent from last year.
The lottery starts at 9 a.m. (0800 GMT) and people throughout the country typically tune into the radio, television or Internet to find out if their number is called for a prize.
The 1,950 tickets with the top prize number were sold across seven of Spain's 52 provinces.
The state lottery agency estimates per capita spending of about C$156 on the Gordo this year, down about $1.70 from 2007. Seventy per cent of lottery sales goes back out in prizes, and 30 per cent goes to the state.
Spain established its national lottery system as a charity in 1763, during the reign of King Carlos III, but its objective gradually shifted toward filling state coffers.
Spain holds another big lottery Jan. 6 to mark the Feast of the Epiphany. It is known as "El Nino" (The Child), in reference to the baby Jesus.
