El Gordo brings money to Mallorca: Third prize (90,693) pays out around 200,000 euros

El Gordo brings money to Mallorca: Third prize sparks small celebrations in several towns

Ticket number 90,693: 50,000 euros per décimo, totalling around 200,000 euros to Consell, Port d'Alcúdia and Cala d'Or

The day after the draw you can immediately feel the impact on the island: in the café opposite the small square in Consell people are laughing louder than usual, the kiosk owner polishes the glass with a satisfied look, and on the streets of Port d'Alcúdia a coach driver pats the lottery seller on the shoulder. Ticket number 90,693 won the third prize in this year's Spanish Christmas lottery. The series is endowed with 500,000 euros – anyone who holds a single ticket (a so‑called “décimo”) receives 50,000 euros.

On Mallorca buyers of this number were found in several places: at least one such ticket was sold in Cala d'Or, two were sold over the counter in Port d'Alcúdia, and one in Consell. Altogether, according to our information, around 200,000 euros flowed to winners on the island. Whether the lucky ones are tourists or locals is not clear in every case – that's part of the mood of this lottery: a bit of mystery, a bit of hope. (For background on participation rules for foreigners see Why Germans can't just play 'El Gordo' online.)

The operators of the sales outlets here remember earlier lucky moments. In one of the shops in Port d'Alcúdia they say that only late last summer a big prize was paid out in EuroMillions; in Consell the owners mention a fifth prize from 2019 as an example that their nerves have fluttered there before. Such memories make the small community proud – sellers who offer tickets all year round are especially busy in the run‑up to Christmas (as reported in Christmas lottery ticket purchases are picking up).

What that concretely means: for small businesses in these towns selling tickets is not only a short‑term turnover, but also a signal. In December, when the streets are cooler and tourist numbers fall, wins like this create conversation and sometimes bring customers back into the shop. Someone who buys a ticket at the counter often stays, drinks a cortado and chats with the owner. That can have noticeable local effects – from the bar to the florist. Local coverage has even featured other notable lottery stories on the island (German social lottery raffles luxury finca in Mallorca).

The Christmas lottery "El Gordo" on the peninsula is an event where not just individual winners but often whole neighborhoods celebrate. Unlike many lotteries, the prizes are distributed so that several people at one sales point can be happy at the same time. That changes the atmosphere: instead of solitary shouts of joy there are neighbors clapping, children handing out shells or sweets, and the question of whether the ticket was shared or kept alone.

For the winners the practical advice is: stay calm, keep the ticket safe and get information from the sales point or from the official Loterías y Apuestas del Estado website about how to collect the prize. Many outlets help with the first step, and in smaller towns the distances are short. Also: if you don't claim your prize straight away you sometimes forget your luck – so it's better to sign the ticket and store it securely.

One nice thing about this news is its broad effect. 50,000‑euro wins are a noticeable sum for individuals – for local businesses and the mood in towns they are often a temporary morale boost. At a time when some complain of tighter budgets, this money is a ray of hope; it is enough to pay bills, start small renovations or fulfil a travel dream. And not to forget: there are stories that are told for a long time.

For Mallorca this means: a few more lights in the towns, conversations at the bar and the reminder that luck sometimes knocks on the door unexpectedly. If you had a ticket: congratulations. If not: try again next year, or simply buy someone a coffee – the island values sharing a bit of luck together.

Outlook: Days like these show how strong local networks are: sales outlets, neighbors and cafés together form the small supportive ecosystem that holds Mallorca together in winter. May the mood last – and may the winners be wise with their good fortune.