La Primitiva: Official Guide, Rules, Odds & How to Play
Spain's oldest lottery — jackpots from €3M+, drawn every Thursday & Saturday
Draws every Thursday & Saturday at 9:30 PM CET (Madrid) — results via official La Primitiva site and SmartLotto
La Primitiva (Spanish: The Original) is Spain's oldest lottery and one of the oldest officially organised lotteries in the world, with origins dating back to 1763 under King Charles III. Operated by Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, it uses a 6/49 format — one of the most common lottery formats globally — plus a unique Reintegro (refund) number.
Players choose 6 main numbers from 1–49 plus a separate Reintegro number from 0–9. The Reintegro is automatically added to every ticket from a pool of 10 numbers — if your Reintegro matches, you get your ticket price refunded, regardless of whether you win any other prize. This unique feature makes La Primitiva one of the most player-friendly lotteries in Europe.
Choose Your 6 Main Numbers
Select 6 numbers from 1 to 49. All 49 numbers are equally likely to be drawn. Use your personal favourites or consult SmartLotto's Cherry Pick Engine for data-backed selections.
The Reintegro is Assigned Automatically
Your ticket is automatically assigned a Reintegro number from 0–9. You cannot choose this number — it is printed on your ticket. If the drawn Reintegro matches yours, your ticket price is refunded.
Select Lines & Draws
Play one or multiple lines per ticket. You can also enter multiple draws in advance. Thursday and Saturday draws are independent of each other.
Purchase Your Ticket
Available at any authorised Spanish lottery retailer (Administración de Loterías), online at loteriasyapuestas.es, or via authorised international concierge services for Australian players.
Watch the Draw — Thursday & Saturday
Draws take place at 9:30 PM CET (Madrid) every Thursday and Saturday. Results are broadcast on TVE and published online and via SmartLotto immediately after each draw.
Claim Your Prize
Reintegro and small prizes can be claimed at any lottery retailer. Prizes up to €2,500 via bank transfer. Larger prizes require a claim at an official Loterías y Apuestas del Estado office. Spanish lottery prizes over €40,000 are subject to a 20% tax.
La Primitiva's most distinctive feature is the Reintegro — a single-digit number (0–9) that is drawn from a separate drum of 10 balls. Every La Primitiva ticket is automatically assigned a random Reintegro number when purchased. If the drawn Reintegro matches your ticket's Reintegro, you receive a full refund of your ticket price.
The Reintegro effectively gives every ticket a 1-in-10 chance of getting a free replay — regardless of the main draw result. If your main draw results in no prize but your Reintegro matches, your ticket cost is returned in full. Over many plays, the Reintegro means Spanish lottery players effectively get one free ticket for every 10 purchased.
La Primitiva has 8 prize divisions including the Reintegro refund. The jackpot rolls over when not won. Spanish lottery prizes over €40,000 are subject to 20% tax.
| Division | Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Div 1 | 6 main numbers | Jackpot (shared) | 1 in 13,983,816 |
| Div 2 | 5 + Complementario | ~€100,000 | 1 in 2,330,636 |
| Div 3 | 5 main numbers | ~€4,000 | 1 in 55,492 |
| Div 4 | 4 main numbers | ~€200 | 1 in 1,032 |
| Div 5 | 3 main numbers | ~€10 | 1 in 57.4 |
| Div 6 | 2 main numbers | €1.50 | 1 in 10.7 |
| Div 7 | Joker (cat.7) | Variable | Special draw |
| Reintegro | Reintegro match | Ticket refund | 1 in 10 |
📊 Jackpot Scale
- Jackpot starts at a guaranteed minimum of €3 million per draw
- No fixed jackpot cap — jackpot rolls over until won
- Spanish lottery prizes over €40,000 are subject to 20% withholding tax
- The Complementario applies to Division 2 (5 matches + Complementario)
- All prizes below €40,000 are paid tax-free
- International winners receive prizes via their authorised concierge operator
El Joker — Spain's Unique Side Game
El Joker is an optional add-on game that runs alongside La Primitiva on Thursday and Saturday draws. Players receive a random 7-digit Joker number printed on their ticket. If the Joker number matches the drawn Joker sequence (all or partial match), additional prizes are won — completely separate from the main La Primitiva draw.
- El Joker is an automatic add-on included with La Primitiva tickets at participating retailers
- Joker prizes range from €3 (last 2 digits match) up to €1 million+ (all 7 digits match)
- Spain also runs Bonoloto (Monday–Saturday 6/49 draws) and El Gordo de la Primitiva (Sunday draws with 5/54 format plus additional number)
- La Primitiva, Bonoloto and El Gordo are all operated by Loterías y Apuestas del Estado
- SmartLotto tracks La Primitiva and El Gordo statistics and results for Australian players
Terminal-generated random 6 numbers from 1–49. Includes automatic Reintegro assignment.
Choose your own 6 numbers. The Reintegro is always assigned automatically — you choose only the main 6 numbers. SmartLotto's Cherry Pick Engine covers La Primitiva's 6/49 format natively.
Play more than 6 numbers for automatic combination coverage. System 7 = 7 combinations, System 8 = 28 combinations, each at standard ticket price.
Available at loteriasyapuestas.es for Spanish residents. International players access via authorised concierge services.
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Play La Primitiva Now View Latest ResultsLa Primitiva is operated by Loterías y Apuestas del Estado under the Spanish National Lottery licence. Australian participation is via authorised concierge operators. Spanish prizes over €40,000 subject to 20% withholding tax. 18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling Help Online: 1800 858 858