El Niño on January 6: Three Kings Lottery and What It Means for Mallorca

El Niño on January 6: Three Kings Lottery and What It Means for Mallorca

Secure a tenth-ticket until 10:00; the draw starts at 12:00 in Madrid

On Tuesday, January 6, Spain will once again be focused on the Three Kings lottery, commonly called El Niño here. After the big Christmas lottery El Gordo, El Niño is the second most important draw of the year. Anyone who still wants to place a bet has until 10:00 locally to buy a ticket; a tenth-ticket (a so-called "décimo") costs €20. The draws begin at 12:00 in Madrid and are followed in many living rooms and cafés.

Around €770 million will be distributed in total in this lottery — a figure that provides plenty of conversation in the small shops and kiosks. On Mallorca you’ll see the usual scenes on the morning of January 6: people with coffee in hand compare their numbers at the tobacco stall on the corner near the market, in front of the tobacconist on Carrer de Sant Miquel, or at the kiosk on Passeig del Born, which mirrors reports that ticket purchases in Palma are picking up.

The lottery here is not just a game of chance but part of the small everyday rituals of the winter season. The women behind the counters know many regular customers by name. People share stories about past wins, laugh about missed chances and swap tips about whether it’s better to play alone or in a small group. The squares and bakeries smell of freshly baked roscón; for many, draw day and Epiphany are one and the same, and local touches such as the Mailbox and Nativity at the Ajuntament are part of those traditions.

Practical information for those who want to take part: a tenth-ticket costs €20 and can still be purchased until 10:00 on the day of the draw. The draw begins two hours later, at 12:00 in Madrid. If you don't want to check your number yourself, you can avoid the crowds in the center and share tickets with friends or neighbors — playing together is popular on Mallorca anyway.

Why is this good for Mallorca? Small sums spent on tickets often stay local: purchases send money to tobacconists, kiosks, bakeries and cafés — often the shops that hardly stop during winter. A small glimmer of hope when a local ticket is drawn also provides conversation in bars and workplaces, brings people together and keeps traditions alive.

If you plan to check the numbers on draw day: it's helpful to set a reminder. The draw starts at 12:00 — so set an alarm, have your coffee ready and your ticket to hand. Many Mallorcans don't follow the draw live on TV but listen on the radio or exchange messages with family back home. If luck strikes: small wins are often reinvested straight away — for example in an outing, a meal with friends, or new winter provisions.

A little modesty never hurts: El Niño is a chance, not a plan, and the appeal often lies more in taking part than in winning millions. Still, there's a feeling that something could happen on a cold January morning on the island — and that's a good reason to start the day with a smile. So: check your tickets, pick up your cup, and if you want, hurry to the kiosk — there's time until 10:00.

For those who can't make it in time: no drama. The island remains full of small hopes and possibilities. And after the draw you'll see the same faces again in the squares, discussing the drawn numbers as if it were the warming topic of winter.

In short: On January 6 the draw for the Three Kings lottery El Niño takes place. A tenth-ticket costs €20 and can be bought until 10:00. The draw starts at 12:00 in Madrid. Around €770 million will be distributed in total. On Mallorca, participating is part of small everyday traditions — and sometimes the hope for a small win is enough to brighten a winter day.