The National Lottery Draw: Thursday vs. Saturday Explained
What Is the Regular National Lottery Draw?
Quick answer: The Spanish National Lottery has two ordinary draws a week. The Thursday tenth costs €3 and its first prize is €30,000 per tenth; the Saturday tenth costs €6 and its first prize is €60,000 per tenth. Both use numbers from 00000 to 99999 and the odds of the first prize are the same: 1 in 100,000.
By the Serviloto team, Lottery Office no. 40 in Málaga (Spain).
| Thursday | Saturday (ordinary) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price of a tenth | €3 | €6 |
| Price of a full ticket | €30 | €60 |
| 1st prize per tenth | €30,000 | €60,000 |
| Odds of the 1st prize | 1 in 100,000 | 1 in 100,000 |
| Refund | €3 | €6 |
Besides the big special draws like the Christmas Lottery or El Nino, Spain's Loterías y Apuestas del Estado holds two regular National Lottery draws every week: one on Thursdays and one on Saturdays. These are the most frequent draws on the calendar, offering a chance to win significant prizes every few days.
Thursday vs. Saturday Draw: What's the Difference?
Although they share the same format, the two draws are not identical. A Thursday tenth costs 3 euros, while a Saturday tenth costs 6 euros. The odds of a given number winning the first prize are the same in both (1 in 100,000); what changes is the price and the size of the prizes: the Thursday first prize is €30,000 per tenth and the Saturday one €60,000.
How the Draw Works and What a Ticket Looks Like
Each draw is made up of five-digit numbers, from 00000 to 99999, organized into series. Players choose a five-digit number, either picking it themselves or letting the system generate one at random, and can buy between 1 and 10 tenth shares per draw. On draw day, balls are drawn from two rotating drums, one with the numbers and one with the corresponding prizes, following the traditional National Lottery system.
Prizes in the Saturday Draw
The regular Saturday draw pays a top prize of 600,000 euros per series, or 60,000 euros per tenth share, plus a substantial second prize. There are also numerous smaller prizes for matching the last four, three or two digits of the winning number, as well as refund prizes for matching the last digit. Overall, roughly 1 in every 3 tenth shares wins some kind of prize.
Virtual Tickets: What They Are and How They Work
Playing the National Lottery with digitally generated virtual tickets is becoming increasingly common. These tickets take part in the draw under exactly the same conditions as traditional paper tickets, with the difference that, if they win, the prize is paid out directly without needing to present a physical ticket.
Key Facts About the National Lottery Draw
- Two regular draws are held every week: Thursday and Saturday.
- A Thursday tenth share costs 3 euros, and a Saturday one costs 6 euros.
- The Saturday draw pays a top prize of 60,000 euros per tenth share.
- Numbers range from 00000 to 99999, organized into series.
- You can buy between 1 and 10 tenth shares per draw.
- Prizes over 2,000 euros require providing banking details within three months.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Thursday and Saturday National Lottery?
Price and prizes: the Thursday tenth costs €3 with a €30,000 first prize; the Saturday tenth costs €6 with a €60,000 first prize per tenth.
How much is a National Lottery tenth?
€3 on Thursdays and €6 on ordinary Saturdays. Some special Saturdays cost more.
What are the odds of winning the National Lottery?
The odds of a number winning the first prize are 1 in 100,000, and of the refund, 1 in 10.
Are Thursday and Saturday National Lottery prizes taxed?
Only above €40,000 per tenth. The ordinary Thursday first prize (€30,000) is tax-free; the Saturday one (€60,000) is taxed at 20% on €20,000, i.e. €4,000.
Are virtual National Lottery tenths valid?
Yes. They take part in the draw on the same terms as paper tenths.
