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In pictures: Spain holds El Gordo, the world's richest lottery El Gordo: Winners celebrate share in world's richest draw
(about 5 hours later)
Spanish lottery enthusiasts are at Madrid's Royal Theatre for the draw of El Gordo - the world's richest lottery. Thousands of people have been celebrating in Spain after winning a share of the €2.38bn ($2.64bn; £2.03bn) prize pot in the world's richest lottery.
Dozens of ticket holders queued through the night outside the opera house, many of whom were dressed in eccentric costumes. Dozens of ticket holders queued through the night outside Madrid's Royal Theatre to watch the draw of El Gordo, which means "the fat one" in Spanish.
At El Gordo, which means "the fat one" in Spanish, about €2.38bn ($2.64bn; £2.03bn) will be given away. There are 170 sets of 100,000 tickets, with each full ticket - costing €200 - entering players into the draw to win the top prize of €4m.
There are 170 sets of 100,000 tickets, with each full ticket - costing €200 euros - entering players into the draw to win the top prize of €4m. The most common ticket is €20, which gives buyers the chance to win 10% of the top prize - €400,000, before tax. There are also thousands of smaller prizes.
The most common ticket is €20, which gives buyers the chance to win €400,000. There are also thousands of smaller prizes. The winning number for the top prize this year was 26590.
Because the rules of the draw are so complex, and players can buy multiple tickets with the same numbers, it is almost impossible to gauge how many people have won.
Winners and the vendors who sold the tickets popped bottles of cava to celebrate.
The jackpot structure is designed to allow as many people as possible a win - even a small one - or to at least break even with a free ticket.The jackpot structure is designed to allow as many people as possible a win - even a small one - or to at least break even with a free ticket.
Every year, millions of people in Spain club together with friends and family for the chance to get a slice of the winnings. Every year, millions of people in Spain club together with friends and family for the chance to get a slice of the winnings. Each ticket can be split 10 ways.
Each ticket can be split 10 ways, with the price of a "decimo" at €20, entitling a winner to 10% of the prize. Those who bought and sold tickets corresponding with smaller prizes also celebrated on Sunday.
As the draw begins, people gather around their televisions for the more-than-three-hour broadcast to watch as the lucky numbers are pulled out of large golden spheres. Many of those attending Sunday's draw dressed in eccentric costumes.
When the winning numbers are chosen, they are sung out by school children. The lucky numbers were pulled out of large golden spheres and sung out by schoolchildren in a live televised event.
Spain's Christmas lottery tradition has been going for more than 200 years.Spain's Christmas lottery tradition has been going for more than 200 years.
It was first broadcast in 1957 - just one year after Spain got television.It was first broadcast in 1957 - just one year after Spain got television.
Because the rules of the draw are so complex, and players can buy multiple tickets with the same numbers, it is almost impossible to gauge how many people have won. All pictures subject to copyright.
As per tradition, the winners go back to where they bought their tickets and pop open bottles of Cava to celebrate.
Owners and employees of the shop Doña Manolita in Madrid were celebrating on Saturday after selling the winning ticket to the biggest prize in the El Gordo draws.
All pictures copyright.