Claire Wilson
LESS than than four in 10 Spaniards would give up work if they won the Christmas lottery jackpot, according to market research company TNS.
The majority – 96 per cent – said they would use the money to help their family, while 76 percent would travel either long-term or on several holidays, and 73 percent would keep some for the future.
Just over two-thirds said they would use the cash to pay off various debts and create buffer zones in their bank accounts, and 63 per cent would donate some to charity, with women being more inclined to want to do so.
Eight in 10 Spanish residents will buy a ticket or a décimo – a 10th of a ticket – or participate in a syndicate for the annual El Gordo lottery, which is drawn this Sunday (December 22), and 45 per cent will follow the draw live on TV.
TNS says the El Gordo appears to be a more popular lottery than the El Niño, drawn on January 6 every year, since only half of all Spanish residents say they will definitely join in.
Just over four in 10 teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 24 will take part in the El Gordo, compared to 88 per cent of the over-50s.
The El Gordo lottery sees the greatest odds of all the large draws of ticket-purchasers holding a winning number, and although the prize money is substantial to the average person, it is not a ‘life-changing’ amount – it is more likely to be a few thousand than several million, the idea being that with lower prizes, more people get the chance to win something.
On January 6, however, the odds are lower but the prize money is much higher.
