One of the most discussed events this week in Bizkaia has been the Christmas Lottery fiasco at the Igorre rugby club. More than a hundred affected individuals have reported to the Ertzaintza that they are owed 2.1 million euros in total, as the club sold 225 extra tickets linked to the third prize.
A similar incident occurred previously in the Leonese town of Villamanín, where the number played by the festival committee won El Gordo, and again, too many tickets were sold. Both events have put thousands of people on alert who, altruistically, manage lotteries for their clubs, associations, and entities, and who annually bear a huge responsibility that can lead to distress and, it remains to be seen, criminal liabilities.
“"What happened in Igorre is something that all of us who manage lotteries in entities keep in mind because it can happen to you. We put all means to prevent it, but an error can occur, the lottery is madness. Many tickets are gathered in a short time and there is a very wide range of people involved."
If those managing the lottery were already treading carefully, they will now review everything to exhaustion. Clubs like the University rugby club in Bilbao are considering adopting more specific measures. The president of this club is exploring the possibility of proposing to the board of directors the creation of an auditor role solely to supervise the lottery.
According to sector sources, it is common for an entity wishing to sell participations to contact a lottery administration. There, the tickets are designed and sent for printing the number of tickets the club estimates it will sell, which are then delivered in packs of 25 tickets. Based on this estimate, a series of tenths are reserved. An administration official, who offers this service to about twenty entities each year, explains that it is rare for these types of neighborhood associations to pay for the tenths in advance. The norm is to pay for them little by little, as the tickets are sold.
The most common formula involves five-euro tickets, of which one euro goes directly to the club and users play four. Each ticket, therefore, is equivalent to one-fifth of a tenth. If El Gordo is won, it amounts to 80,000 euros per ticket, from which taxes must be deducted. This is no small matter.
A few days before the draw, entities must bring all the money to the administration to 'exchange' it for tenths that remain on the premises because “it would be strange for someone to take 50, 100, 200, or 400 tenths; it's a very big risk.” Lottery sellers, such as those in Bilbao, strive to call their clients to warn them not to leave everything until the last minute. Another recommendation is to “destroy” unsold tickets to avoid problems.
A worker from a Bilbao administration, who wishes not to be identified, warns of the risks. “Some people take it very seriously, but others don't live off this and don't prioritize it. They don't maintain very strict control, and then rushes happen, tickets are missing…,” he criticizes. He insists that ensuring sold tickets match the money is the exclusive responsibility of the associations.
Funding and tradition are the main reasons behind the lottery. For small entities, such as a cycling club, it can account for up to 20% of their annual budget. Most of these earnings are allocated to their cycling school. Additionally, there is an emotional element: “Playing the lottery is a tradition. People who no longer have a relationship with the club continue to play to maintain the bond,” stated a club president.
