Draws for today Monday, August 31: schedules of La Primitiva, Bonoloto, EuroDreams, and ONCE Daily Coupon

To organize an “official” raffle or, more accurately, a promotional raffle compliant with regulations in Spain, it is key to distinguish whether we are dealing with a mere advertising action without the character of regulated gambling or a random combination for advertising purposes that falls within the scope of gambling. From there, the legal and administrative steps are organized in several phases: legal design of the promotion, drafting and publication of the terms and conditions, compliance with data protection, taxation of prizes, and, if applicable, processing of gambling authorizations.

1. Define the type of raffle

• Simple advertising raffle: typical raffle of a brand among followers on social networks, customers who fill out a form, etc., where there is no specific participation fee, but an incentive linked to the commercial promotion. It is not considered, in principle, regulated gambling if:
  • No additional specific payment is required to participate (beyond the usual purchase of the product or service, if commercially justified).
  • The main objective is advertising and not to organize an autonomous game of chance.
• Random combination for advertising purposes subject to gambling: when the mechanics approach a lottery or raffle (direct payment to participate, sale of tickets, exploitation of chance as the main activity, mass public access), it may require a gambling license (state or regional competence depending on the scope).

2. Design of mechanics and legal terms

• Precisely define:
  • Organizer (company, brand, group of companies).
  • Territorial scope (entire State or certain Autonomous Communities; if limited to one community, its regional gambling and consumer regulations must also be reviewed).
  • Exact duration (start and end dates and times).
  • Participation mechanics (registration, interaction on social networks, purchase registration, etc.).
  • Criteria for selecting winners (pure chance, jury + raffle, combination of both).
  • Prizes, approximate value, and number of units.
• With that definition, draft complete legal terms that include:
  • Identification of the organizer and contact method.
  • Participation requirements (age, residence, exclusions).
  • Detailed mechanics, dates, procedure for selecting winners and alternates.
  • Method of communication and acceptance of the prize, response deadlines, and possible waivers.
  • Prize substitution regime and exclusion of cash redemption, except for legal obligation.
  • Data protection and intellectual property policy (use of the winner’s name or image in commercial communications).
  • Liability regime, grounds for disqualification, and claims.
  • Applicable law and jurisdiction.

3. Notary and publication of the terms

• Deposit before a notary: not mandatory for all raffles, but very common for reasons of transparency and legal security. The notary:
  • Incorporates the terms into a protocol.
  • Can draw up an act of the raffle (especially in combinations of certain value or impact).
• In any case, the terms must be publicly available (website, landing page, social profile) and accessible before participating.

4. Personal data protection

• Identify the data controller and, if applicable, processors.
• Clearly inform (in terms and forms) about:
  • Purpose: management of the raffle, communication of winners, possible commercial mailings if expressly consented.
  • Legal basis: execution of the promotional relationship and, if applicable, consent for marketing.
  • Data retention periods.
  • Rights of participants and channels to exercise them.
• Avoid requesting excessive data; apply proportional security measures.

5. Taxation of prizes

• Prizes in advertising raffles are subject to Personal Income Tax (IRPF). For prizes of certain amounts, the organizer must withhold a tax payment on account and declare it to the Tax Agency.
• It is common for the terms to clarify whether the organizer assumes that withholding (increasing the prize value for tax purposes) or if the winner must declare the prize.
• For high-value prizes (cars, luxury trips, cash amounts), it is advisable to plan the tax cost and administrative burden in advance (tax forms, certifications to the winner, etc.).

6. Gambling licenses and authorizations

• If the raffle is configured as paid gambling (price to participate, economic exploitation of chance) or is equated to a lottery/raffle, it may require a license from the state or regional gambling authority.
• In those cases, in addition to the advertising promotion, it is necessary to process:
  • Prior authorization request with a descriptive report of the activity.
  • Proof of solvency and economic guarantees if required.
  • Compliance with limits and prohibitions (minors, protected groups, responsible advertising).

7. Main sanctioning risks

• Classification of the raffle as illegal gambling if it is actually a disguised raffle without a license.
• Non-compliance with consumer and advertising regulations: unclear terms, abusive clauses, misleading messages.
• Sanctions for data protection if not properly informed or if data are used for purposes other than those announced.
• Problems with the Tax Agency for not declaring or not withholding the corresponding payments on account.

In practice, for a standard commercial promotion, the key steps are: design a clearly advertising mechanic without specific payment, draft and publish complete terms, consider notarial deposit, comply with GDPR and prize taxation, and review that it is not actually configured as a game subject to administrative authorization.

ONCE is one of the two major public lottery operators at the state level in Spain, with its own regime in gambling matters. Its powers in raffles and lotteries are not generic over “all gambling,” but very defined and subject to strong State oversight, which grants it specific authorizations and controls its exercise.

Basic legal framework

The core of the regulation is in Royal Decree 358/1991, of March 15, which reorganizes ONCE, and its numerous subsequent amendments (especially Royal Decree 394/2011 and the Royal Decrees of 2012, 2013, 2015, 2021, and 2025 that update the authorization and gambling control regime). Added to this is Royal Decree 1336/2005, of November 11, on instant or pre-drawn lottery, amended by Royal Decree 1706/2011.

At the general legal level, Law 13/2011, on gambling regulation, reserves state-level lotteries to operators designated by the law itself. This reservation is concretized in that ONCE is one of the only two operators that can market state-level lottery products, along with Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (SELAE).

Which games can ONCE manage

According to Royal Decree 358/1991 (articles on gambling authorizations) and subsequent development, ONCE:

• Owns and manages the “cupón prociegos”, in its various versions: Daily Coupon, Cuponazo, Weekend Sueldazo, special draws, etc. The product regulations of the “ONCE Coupon” are published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) after verification by the Protectorate Council.
• Owns the “active game of ONCE” modality (games like its own Eurojackpot, numeric combinations, etc.), regulated in its own product regulations and also subject to state authorization.
• Is authorized to operate an instant or pre-drawn lottery (scratch cards and similar), throughout the national territory, with limits on issues, prize percentages, and reinforced control, according to Royal Decree 1336/2005 and its 2011 reform.
• Can participate in common international lottery products, provided they fall within one of its authorized modalities (coupon, active game, or instant lottery) and that in each country there is an authorized operator; it must participate in the product risk, not only as a distributor.

Scope of its powers

ONCE does not have a “general gambling monopoly,” but it does have a set of exclusive authorizations over its own state-level lottery modalities. Its recognized powers can be summarized as follows:

• Direction, organization, and operation of its authorized game modalities: it decides prize structure, draw mechanics, product design, draw frequency, and commercial programming, within the limits set by the Council of Ministers and the General Government–ONCE Agreement.
• Price and volume setting: ONCE’s General Council can set coupon and ticket prices and propose issue and sales volumes, always within the maximum limits (sales, issue, and prize percentage) established in state authorizations.
• Marketing through its own network and other channels: ONCE distributes its products through its network of sellers (staff with disabilities) and, in the case of instant lottery and other games, also through electronic, telematic media and external retail outlets, according to the cited royal decrees.
• Management of income for social purposes: income from all authorized lottery modalities is allocated to finance its social purposes and is subject to specific use and control obligations, both in RD 358/1991 and RD 1336/2005 and its amendments.

State oversight and control

Despite this broad management margin, ONCE’s gambling activity is subject to strict public control:

• The Council of Ministers grants the authorizations related to the coupon draw regime and any other game modality defined in the General Government–ONCE Agreement, setting terms, scope, duration, and limits.
• The ONCE Protectorate Council pre-verifies product regulations, changes in game conditions, new launches, special draws, etc., and requires their publication in the BOE as a guarantee for consumers.
• Royal Decree 358/1991 itself obliges ONCE to cooperate with the State in the fight against illegal gambling, fraud, and money laundering, and to comply with responsible gambling standards (prohibition for minors, prevention of excessive gambling, etc.).

In summary, ONCE is a state-level lottery operator with very broad powers of management, organization, and distribution of its own games, but always within a regime of authorizations, limits, and public supervision that fits its activity into the State’s general gambling policy and the financing of its social purposes.

The current legal regime for lottery and betting raffles in Spain rests on a block of basic state-level gambling regulations, which is complemented by development regulations, specific rules for Loterías y Apuestas del Estado and ONCE, and by the regulation of gambling advertising. The Autonomous Communities also have their own powers over in-person gambling and raffles of regional or local scope.

1. General basic law on state-level gambling and betting

• Law 13/2011, of May 27, on gambling regulation – It is the core law regulating the exploitation and management of state-level games and bets (including sports betting and online gambling), establishes the distribution of powers between State and Autonomous Communities, the regime of enabling titles (licenses and authorizations), the framework for protection of minors and players, infractions and sanctions, and the reservation of state lotteries to SELAE and ONCE. Text: Law 13/2011.
• Law 23/2022, of November 2 – Amends Law 13/2011, strengthens safe gambling policies and the regulatory authority’s evaluation capacity, and introduces references to the Global Betting Market Investigation Service against fraud and manipulation of sports competitions. Text: Law 23/2022.
• Law 11/2021, on measures to prevent and combat tax fraud – Amends various provisions of Law 13/2011 regarding tax control, information obligations, and combating fraud linked to gambling and betting. Text: Law 11/2021.
• Royal Decree-Law 16/1977, of February 25 – Historically decriminalizes gambling and regulates criminal, administrative, and tax aspects of games of chance, betting, and wagers. Part of its content remains in force, although it has been largely displaced and partially repealed by later regulations, particularly Law 13/2011.

2. Regulatory development of gambling and licenses

• Royal Decree 1613/2011, of November 14 – Develops Law 13/2011 regarding the technical requirements of gambling activities: gaming technical systems, central gaming unit, random number generator, monitoring, security, traceability of operations, participant identification, etc. It is key for online gambling and electronic betting. Text: RD 1613/2011.
• Royal Decree 1614/2011, of November 14 – Develops Law 13/2011 regarding licenses, authorizations, and registries: procedures for general and specific licenses, reserved game authorizations, economic guarantees, registries (licenses, gambling access bans, persons linked to operators), gaming contracts, gaming accounts, deposits, and prize payments. Text: RD 1614/2011.
• Royal Decree 176/2023, of March 14, developing safer gambling environments – Strengthens safe gambling policies provided in Law 13/2011: measures to detect risk behaviors, additional information and monitoring obligations of player activity, special protection of minors and vulnerable groups, etc. Text: RD 176/2023.

3. Advertising of lotteries and betting

• Royal Decree 958/2020, of November 3, on commercial communications of gambling activities – Develops articles 7 and 8 of Law 13/2011 regarding advertising, sponsorship, and promotion of games and bets (including state lotteries and online betting) and responsible gambling policies. It regulates schedules, media, conditions of bonuses and promotions, presence of public figures, etc. Certain provisions have been annulled by Supreme Court rulings and part of Title II has been repealed or replaced by RD 176/2023, but it remains a central reference. Text: RD 958/2020.
• Law 13/2022, of July 7, General Audiovisual Communication Law – Regulates, transversally, audiovisual commercial communications, including restrictions and obligations in the broadcasting of gambling and betting advertising on television, radio, and video-on-demand services. Text: Law 13/2022.

4. Specific regulations on state lotteries and betting

• Royal Decree 208/2004, of February 6, on certain aspects related to state-owned games – Regulates formal elements of Loterías y Apuestas del Estado draws (composition of draw tables, holding and control of draws, etc.). Text: RD 208/2004.
• Royal Decree 716/2005, of June 20, on external horse racing bets – Restores and regulates the national external horse racing bet, whose exploitation is authorized to Loterías y Apuestas del Estado. Text: RD 716/2005.
• Order EHA/2566/2005, of July 20 – Authorizes Loterías y Apuestas del Estado to market its products through the Internet and other interactive systems, setting basic security, data protection, participation limitation, and territorial control requirements. Text: Order EHA/2566/2005.
• Specific ONCE regulations – Various resolutions of the State Secretariat for Social Rights and precedents (e.g., regulations of Coupon, Active game, and Instant ticket lottery) approve and modify ONCE lottery product regulations, issued “in accordance” with article 4 and additional provisions of Law 13/2011.

On this basic state framework are superimposed, for raffles and lotteries that are not state-level (for example, charity raffles or in-person games in gaming halls), the gambling laws and regulations of each Autonomous Community, which complete the regulation of lottery and betting raffles in Spain.