In the Leonese village of Villamanín, residents have reached an agreement to cover a four-million-euro shortfall in distributing the Christmas Lottery's top prize, due to selling more shares than available tickets. The fiesta commission will cover over two million euros, while winners will cede a smaller percentage of their winnings. The deal aims to preserve community peace, though it has sparked divisions and tensions.
On December 22, Villamanín, a village of about 900 inhabitants in León, celebrated winning the top prize of the Christmas Lottery Extraordinario with number 79.432, sold in five-euro shares by the fiesta commission. Each winning share was worth 80,000 euros, but joy turned to conflict upon discovering more shares sold than consigned tickets: a booklet of 50 shares was forgotten in delivery, creating a four-million-euro shortfall.
On December 26, around 300 people gathered for three or four hours in the Hogar del Pensionista to debate a solution. Initially, winners were asked to cede 6% of their prize (4,800 euros), but after heated discussions with tears and accusations, the commission agreed to forgo their own ticket and personal shares, covering over two million euros, equivalent to five tickets. Residents will contribute about 3% (around 2,400 euros per share), according to attendees like Aitor Fernández, who called it "the most ethical possible".
The commission described it as an "involuntary error" in counting booklets after selling 400 or 450 shares. Lotero Rubén González confirmed receiving payment for 81 tickets instead of the expected 90, leaving 10 unbacked. Some neighbors, like an anonymous one, voiced distrust: "I suppose it wasn't intentional, but we're not going to pay for it all together". Others, like Inmaculada Gutiérrez, advocated solidarity: "You won't be happier or less for ceding part of the prize".
Funds will be deposited in a court for transparent distribution by March 22. The Guardia Civil monitored to prevent incidents, and the New Year's eve preview party was canceled. The village, now split between those seeing it as a oversight and those suspecting hidden motives, prioritized understanding to claim prizes without court involvement.
