A resident of Ardales, in the Guadalteba region, has won €157,970.03 after matching five numbers plus one star in the EuroMillions draw of May 22.
The winning ticket was purchased at the lottery outlet located at Real, 30 in Ardales, a town of around 2,500 inhabitants in the province of Málaga. The second-category prize corresponds to matching five main numbers and one star, a feat achieved by only five bettors across Europe in that draw, and by just one in Spain.
The lucky winner’s combination—06, 22, 26, 31, 37 with stars 05 and 08—was the only Spanish ticket in the second category. According to the official data from Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, the prize amount is subject to a 20% withholding tax on the portion exceeding €40,000, meaning the net proceeds will be around €134,376 after automatic deduction.
In the same draw, a third-category ticket (five correct numbers) was sold at the La Vaguada shopping center in Madrid, awarding €36,920.20 to its holder. No first-category winner (5+2) was declared, leaving the jackpot for the next draw.
This win is a notable boost for Ardales, a municipality in the Guadalteba region known for its natural park and the Guadalteba reservoir. The last major lottery prize in the area occurred in 2022, when a local resident won €50,000 in a Christmas draw. The current prize is more than triple that amount.
Euromillions is one of the most popular transnational lotteries, with draws held every Tuesday and Friday. The odds of winning the second category are approximately 1 in 6.99 million. The total stake pool for the May 22 draw was €11,393,136, with prizes distributed across 13 categories.
The winner has 90 days from the draw date to claim the prize at any authorized lottery outlet or at the Loterías y Apuestas del Estado headquarters in Madrid. For sums over €40,000, identity verification and tax withholding are mandatory. It is advisable to sign the back of the ticket immediately to prove ownership.
Local residents in Ardales have expressed excitement, with some shops displaying congratulatory messages. The administration where the ticket was bought, known as Administración de Loterías nº1, has seen increased foot traffic since the news broke. Although the winner has not come forward publicly, the town hopes the prize will bring economic benefits to the community.
