Soria leads spending for El Gordo: “We are small and we all know each other” | Spain

The constant pilgrimage to the Soria Lottery administrations means queues in front of the counter and, with them, extracts of delicious conversations for Christmas gossips. “I had a feeling!” exclaims one. “Sweet blood sausage is typical from here!” comments another, more concerned with things to eat than things to dream. The line moves forward and the lotteries send out endings, ugly and handsome numbers, the bar or company ticket, the anniversary of I don’t know who, the number of I don’t know how many… So up to the 285.04 euros that are spent per person, on average, in the province of Soria, the overwhelming Spanish leader in investment in the Christmas Lottery. Castilla y León, fueled by this push, commands the regional balance, with 117.76 euros per beard, according to State Lotteries and Betting. The national average, 75.84 euros, is almost four times lower than in Soria. The reason, according to the Sorians, is because several prizes have recently fallen – perhaps due to so much outlay – and because of the old “We all know each other.” In other words, no one is going to allow their neighbor, or co-worker, or patron of the bar, or colleague on the soccer team, to get rich and not them.

Each sales stand tries to seduce the neighbor in need of covering up cracks by crowing with posters the prizes sold in previous editions. A Gordo here a few years ago, several seconds or thirds, numbers where only one digit danced. Everyone manages to make themselves loved while the clientele looks for any excuse to try to guarantee that the purchased ticket will be successful on December 22. Pilar and Rosa toil in Administration 6 of Soria, where the phone rings constantly and souls parade at the window wanting to tempt random people. An endless number of tenths hang in public view while inside, in aluminum drawers, are the countless possibilities corresponding to all kinds of entities. Some are there: the Government delegation in Soria, Correos, Cadena SER, Aguas de Soria, Soria Natural, or those chosen by some towns, such as Pobar or Hontalbilla de Valcorba. The undecided, celebrates the cash register, sometimes come with an idea, but, as they more or less know family or friends in any of the companies or groups with their own number, they end up taking it just in case. “Soria is small, people get excited and we all know each other, people have predilections and an endless number of typical numbers, those that end in 13 or 15 always fly,” the workers comment, with one maxim: “Advantages of being small.” .

Of course, there is a trick. Perhaps the contagion effect of this expense or being attracted by the prizes from previous editions encourages many tourists, or specific travelers, to come to the province and grab the Soria tenths. This argument is remembered by both administration employees and some locals slightly offended by this accusation of leaving so many quarters in the Lottery. “One thing is what is sold and another thing is what Sorianos spend!” says a man waiting his turn while arguing with a friend about which one to choose. Next, a blunt “in Soria we have few topics of conversation and this has been talked about since August”, a phrase that divides opinions around it.

The commercial representative of Loterías de Soria, Miguel Ángel Madruga, explains the keys to that money destined for chance. First, a triumphant streak in 2006, when Almazán bathed in 375 million euros and another 100.5 kilos fell through the territory. In 2012, more fortune and 379 million from El Niño. “That he has played so much in a small province makes the feeling that he is playing closer and that we all have acquaintances who had something, not like in Madrid or Barcelona where you don’t perceive it,” describes Madruga, and in terms of demographics he remembers that Soria (90,000 inhabitants) is one of those provinces with more people born there who live outside and who when they return to the town in summer they stock up. The favorable history helps tourists think that “it’s time for Soria” and risk their money. “Some point of sale managers say that if there is a good mycological season, they sell more,” he adds, since mushrooms leave a good profit in local piggy banks. “In all of Spain it happens that it’s not up to the person next door and not to me, that’s how we are,” believes Madruga, arguing that since everyone knows each other, no one wants to be isolated if the prize comes.

The attitude is similar in urban and rural areas. Three friends taste a claret in a bar in San Esteban de Gormaz (3,000 inhabitants) and recite a list of colleagues who were successful, such as Pedro ‘El Chato’. Fernando Benítez, 61, admits to having numbers “from all the bars” and hopes to get it right like his brother did: “That one caught well.” Ignacio Sierra, 29 years old, multiplies behind the counter to supply the demand for stall 1 in Soria, on the busy Paseo del Collado, coquettishly decked out for Christmas and a good excuse to give a volt and then scratch his pocket to see what happens next. day 22. “More is sold than in 2023,” points out the lottery, who is proven right by the estimated spending data: last year each inhabitant spent 276.21 euros, somewhat less than now. “I’m not a believer but all my colleagues and I bought the number of the church in my town, Salduero, to see if it will be for all the old people and not for us,” Sierra illustrates. From his work experience, he highlights the manias, with some who ask for “The ugliest there is!”, others who beg not to see the ticket or those who bet “for the one that sells the least.”

Some ask for advice by phone, to avoid disappointment, about what option to buy while their daughter is losing a huge lollipop, oblivious to the fact that on Sunday there may be funds for many more sweets. Some ladies from Bilbao admit that they have not yet “started” in this matter of millions and that, of course, since they are traveling through the city, they will spend. Felisa Maqueda, 85-year-old matriarch, distributes tickets of a number to her family that she refuses to confess and poses a premise of pure logic: “I spend little, that’s why I play to see if it’s my turn!” One of the clients comes to the establishment without great enthusiasm but ready to open his wallet. Choose a number, pay it, and go home.

-“Luck!”, wishes the lottery. The buyer turns around: “Likewise,” he says, laughing.