Spanish BonoLoto
Spain's second-tier national lottery. Draws happen twice weekly. Players pick 6 numbers from a pool of 49, plus a supplementary ball determines bonus prizes.
Tuesday and Thursday
6 from 49
1 bonus number drawn
Loterías y Apuestas del Estado
Game Mechanics: How BonoLoto Works
BonoLoto requires you to select 6 numbers between 1 and 49. The draw takes place twice per week, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
The lottery machine draws 6 numbers first. Then a seventh number, called the supplementary ball or "number complement," is drawn separately. This supplementary number activates bonus prizes in lower tiers.
Your ticket wins if your 6 numbers match the main draw in any combination. The supplementary ball does not need to match; it only affects prizes when you have matched fewer than 6 main numbers.
You can play a single line per ticket, or multiple combinations on one slip. Many players use syndicates to spread cost across larger number selections.
Prize Tiers and Odds
BonoLoto has six prize categories. Winnings depend on how many of your 6 numbers match the draw, and whether the supplementary ball applies.
Category 1 (Jackpot): All 6 main numbers match. No supplementary required. This is the rarest outcome and carries the largest prize pool share.
Category 2: 5 main numbers match, plus the supplementary ball. The supplementary acts as a bonus that elevates a five-number partial match into a second-tier prize.
Category 3: 5 main numbers match, no supplementary required. Wins a fixed or proportional amount below Category 2.
Category 4: 4 main numbers match. Prize is smaller and more frequent than three-number wins.
Category 5: 3 main numbers match. Most common winning event.
Category 6: 2 main numbers match, plus the supplementary. Smallest prize tier; covers recovery of stake in many cases.
The odds of winning any prize are approximately 1 in 3.4. The odds of matching all 6 numbers are approximately 1 in 13.9 million. Your actual prize amount depends on ticket sales and how many winners share each tier.
Draw Schedule and Timing
BonoLoto draws occur every Tuesday and Thursday. Draws take place in the evening, typically around 21:00 CET, though the exact time can vary by season and operator schedule.
Results are published on the Loterías y Apuestas del Estado website within minutes of the draw close. Betarama updates results shortly after official publication.
Ticket sales close approximately 20 minutes before the draw. Confirm the cutoff time for your region, as it may vary.
Operator and Regulatory Context
Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, Spain's state lottery operator, manages BonoLoto under a government monopoly. The organization falls under Spain's Ministry of Finance and Public Administration.
BonoLoto is part of Spain's regulated lottery portfolio and has operated since the 1980s. Unlike some European lotteries, BonoLoto does not publish full prize-fund breakdowns by percentage; prize amounts are drawn from a fixed or proportional pool depending on the jurisdiction and current rules.
All draws are audited and televised to ensure transparency. The state regulates odds, maximum jackpots, and prize payout rates.
Tax Treatment and Payout Mechanics
In Spain, lottery winnings above EUR 2,500 are subject to withholding tax. The standard rate is 20 percent on amounts exceeding EUR 2,500. Winners must declare their prize on their tax return.
Payments are handled by the state lottery and distributed through official channels. Winnings can be claimed at authorized retailers or through the state lottery office, depending on the prize amount.
Prize pools are not fixed across all draws. Each tier shares a proportional slice of that week's total ticket sales. This means your actual prize amount fluctuates based on ticket volume and the number of winners in each category.
If multiple players match all 6 numbers in the same draw, the jackpot is split equally among them.
Odds, Expected Value, and Syndicate Math
Your overall chance of any prize win is roughly 1 in 3.4 per line. The chance of the jackpot is roughly 1 in 13.9 million.
The expected value of a single BonoLoto line depends on prize-pool payouts, which are not fixed in advance. European lotteries typically return 40 to 50 percent of revenue as prizes. This means the house edge is 50 to 60 percent on average. Over many plays, you should expect to lose more than you spend.
Syndicates reduce per-person cost and increase the number of combinations covered. If 10 players share a syndicate with 10 lines each, the cost per person drops 90 percent, but prize shares are split 10 ways. Syndicates do not improve your odds; they improve affordability.
Picking numbers randomly or through a system yields identical odds. No combination is more likely to win than another.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the main 6 numbers and the supplementary ball?
The main 6 numbers are drawn first from the pool of 49. The supplementary ball is a seventh number drawn separately. The supplementary ball only affects prizes when you have matched fewer than 6 main numbers. For example, if you match 5 main numbers and the supplementary ball, you win Category 2 (second prize). If you match 5 main numbers but not the supplementary, you win Category 3 (lower prize). The supplementary does not apply to the jackpot (Category 1).
How often does BonoLoto draw, and when?
BonoLoto draws twice per week: every Tuesday and Thursday. Draws happen in the evening, typically around 21:00 CET. Ticket sales close roughly 20 minutes before the draw. Confirm the exact cutoff time with your region's rules, as times can shift with daylight savings or operator changes.
Are BonoLoto winnings subject to tax in Spain?
Yes. In Spain, lottery winnings above EUR 2,500 are withheld at 20 percent by the lottery operator. You must also declare the prize on your annual tax return as income. Winnings below EUR 2,500 are typically not withheld but may still be reportable depending on your tax status. Non-residents may face different rules; check with Spanish tax authorities if applicable.
What are my odds of winning the BonoLoto jackpot?
The odds of matching all 6 numbers are approximately 1 in 13.9 million. Your overall odds of winning any prize (Categories 1 through 6) are roughly 1 in 3.4. The most common win is Category 5 (matching 3 numbers), which happens in roughly 1 in 56 plays.
Do prize amounts stay the same every draw?
No. BonoLoto prizes are proportional, not fixed. Each tier receives a percentage share of that week's total ticket sales. If more people play, the prize pool grows but is split among more winners. If fewer people play, the pool shrinks. Only the operator can publish final amounts after the draw closes and all tickets are sold.
Can I improve my odds by playing a system or syndicate?
No. Every 6-number combination has identical odds of winning. Playing 10 lines gives you 10 independent chances, but the odds per line remain 1 in 13.9 million for the jackpot. A syndicate spreads cost across multiple players and covers more combinations, but prize shares are split equally among members. Syndicates improve affordability, not odds.
