Hindustan Times, Madrid, Agence France-Presse: Millions of crisis-hit Spaniards are snatching up tickets for the world's richest lottery draw on Thursday, which will shower winners with a record 2.5 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in prizes. Undeterred by a 21.5-% jobless rate and the prospect of recession, four out of every five Spaniards are expected to snatch up a ticket to a lottery known as "El Gordo", or the "Fat One". Long queues snaked through the streets as people took a chance to dream of an escape from the economic crisis, each person buying an
average of more than 60 euros' worth of tickets. In Madrid's main artery, the Gran Via, many waited for tickets at a small kiosk. "I am spending more than last year, 100 euros, and I am sharing the tickets with my friends and family," said a 48-year-old office worker, Victoria. "Some of them are having a very tough time financially and I want us to win," she said. A tradition that dates back nearly two centuries, "El Gordo" is an engrained Christmas ritual. Family, friends and 'colleagues can play the same number and share the gains if they are lucky on December 22, when pupils from former Madrid orphanage San Ildefenso sing out the numbers on national television. At Madrid's Dona Manolita lottery ticket shop, which is famed for having sold the winning number several times, superstitious players are prepared to wait for hours for a ticket. "And they say Spain is in a crisis," a passer-by could be heard muttering as he struggled to get past the huge queue. Spaniards' attachment to "El Gordo" allows the national lottery to rake in a fortune each year, of which 70% is shared out in prizes. It makes the draw one of the world's most generous, said Juan Antonio Gallardo, sales director of the national lottery. The jackpot has grown to 400,000 euros from 300,000 euros last year. With lottery ticket sales expected to amount to 3.6 billion euros, up from 2.7 billion euros last year, the total prize money to be shared out is expected to be 2.52 billion euros. "The Christmas lottery is written into Spaniards' DNA. No other lottery in the world sells so much," Gallardo said.Read Full: World's richest lottery to shower 3.6 bn euros - Hindustan Times
