He is quite a national event. Every December 22, millions of Spaniards follow the minute by minute of this draw, in which millions of euros are at stake (the first prize is 400,000 euros to the tenth). In fact, in 2021 alone, we Spaniards bought more than 150 million tickets.
And according to the forecasts of State Lotteries and Gambling, each Spaniard will spend an average of 63.82 euros this year to buy tickets for the ‘Gordo’ draw. That is, about three tenths per person.
However, the chances of winning are tiny: 1 in 100,000, or what is the same, 0.00001% chance.
For the psychologist Olga Fernández-Velilla Lapuertadel , “some of the reasons that encourage us to participate are illusion and the hope that we will be touched, despite the fact that it is not something rational, and another very powerful one is the feeling of feeling part of the group”.
The specialist explains to this portal that the Christmas lottery it’s a cultural phenomenon In our country, it even attracts many of the people who do not participate in other games of chance.
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“There will be people who participate with greater enthusiasm, eager to maintain this ancient tradition, and others from a type of thinking, what if it’s my neighbor’s turn and not me?”
But tradition is not the only reason that “pushes” us to buy tickets every year for this Extraordinary Christmas Draw.
The group pressure it also plays a fundamental role, “since perhaps one does not consider buying, but how can one deny the participation of the company? Or to that tenth that a family member offers to exchange?
And what about superstition?
Fernández-Velilla Lapuerta points out that “it will have more to do with the particular person. We often hear that people play specific numbers because they believe they bring them luck or because they are important to them”.
Playing the Christmas Lottery gives us “pleasure”
And then, if it almost never plays, and we know it, why do we continue to play this draw year after year?
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The psychologist emphasizes that “it activates the reward mechanism and the limbic system of our brain, which controls the entire emotional part.”
Specifically, it stands out, the core accumbens linked to the sensation of pleasure. This makes us, among other things, “continuing to participate year after year is the pleasant feeling of playing and to feel that we have come close to hitting those six numbers”.
However, the fact that it is so ingrained in our customs can be a problem for people with a gambling addiction.
A very dangerous relationship, between the Christmas Lottery and compulsive gambling, which is a real risk of relapse for the most vulnerable and “will undoubtedly be one of the most difficult times of the year.”
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“There are ads everywhere, people are constantly commenting on it, and there is a lot of social acceptance of the giveaway. In addition, it is usually a time when you have more free time (vacations, holidays…), a little more money for the extra pay and more raffles”.
For this reason, the specialist advises that if you have suffered or know someone who has this problem “try to be attentive and offer your support and help at this time.”
And if it touches us… what do we do?
Although it is clear that a Lottery prize does not solve life, it does help to “cover” some holes: change your car, finish paying the mortgage… And this is the main reason why this draw has so many followers: 7 out of 10 Spaniards play some tenth.
But the main problem faced by the luckiest is the mismanagement of the prize:
“Facing the news rationally will be difficult, it is normal for emotions to overflow us at a time like this, but we must be careful and not get carried away by it.”
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“It will be important to inform ourselves of the tax-free amount we are going to receive and reflect on how or in what we want to invest that money based on our needs. Also, to the extent that you can, it doesn’t hurt to indulge yourself with that unexpected money.
Each person will experience it in a very different way. The education, the economic situation and the personality of each one will make this vary.
- phase of surprise and euphoria, “where it can be hard to believe that the jackpot has been won and of course at that moment joy will invade. We must be cautious and not get carried away by it and start spending money that we probably do not yet have. When emotions invade us it is better not to make important decisions”.
- Emotionally calmer phase“where we consider what we want to do with it, we will inform ourselves and make decisions about what to do with that amount.”
- action phase. Here, “collect the prize and start investing in what has been decided”.
And if… it’s not our turn (again)?
The psychologist’s fundamental advice is “not to generate unrealistic expectations. As we already know, the possibility of it touching us is low. From then on, accepting the frustration is the only way”.
If the one that does not touch generates some very high levels of discomfort or some type of difficulty or problem “it will be important to consider stopping participating in this type of game”. “The Christmas Lottery is something in which there is no obligation to participate and that if you decide to do it should be something exciting, which seeks to follow a tradition but is not beneficial for everyone.”